Mvuseleli Mboxwana(29) has been sentenced to life imprisonment by Butterworth Regional Court for raping his friend's girlfriend and his ex-girlfriend in Butterworth,Eastern Cape.
The National Prosecuting Authority(NPA) in Eastern Cape confirmed that Mboxwana was convicted and sentenced for rape,kidnapping,and breach of protection order earlier this year.
“The Butterworth Regional Court has sentenced Mvuseleli Mboxwana(29) to life imprisonment for the rape of two women,a 23-year-old girlfriend of his friend and his 33-year-old ex-girlfriend, in separate incidents committed two months apart in the same neighbourhood. He was also sentenced to an additional eight years' imprisonment for kidnapping and breaching a protection order,”said Luxolo Tyali,NPA Regional Spokesperson for Eastern Cape Division.
Tyali revealed that Mboxwana's first victim was the girlfriend of his friend which he raped in front of her baby for the entire night.
“On 22 May 2025,the first victim was at home in Phumlani informal settlement,Butterworth, with her young child when Mboxwana arrived, claiming to deliver toiletries for her incarcerated boyfriend, who is his friend. Upon entering, he locked the door, forcefully undressed and raped her repeatedly throughout the night. At one point, her baby woke up and sat on the bed, witnessing the assault on her mother. The following morning, the victim ran to her neighbour for help, who accompanied her to the police station. She was then taken to the Butterwoth Thuthuzela Care Centre(TCC) for medical care and counselling,”said Tyali.
Tyali also revealed that Mboxwana continued with his wrongdoings as he proceeded to rape his ex-girlfriend which had a protection order against him.
“On 28 July 2025,the second victim,Mboxwana's ex-girlfriend,who had previously obtained a protection order against him, was walking home from a party when he accosted her. He assaulted her, used a knife to cut her braids, and threatened a passerby who tried to intervene. He then dragged her to his residence in Phumlani, locked her inside, and raped her multiple times through the night. She managed to escape the next morning, reported the matter to the police, and was also taken to the Butterworth TCC,”added Tyali.
Tyali mentioned that Mboxwana tried to runaway from the police but was arrested in his hideout at New Rest informal settlement and during the court proceedings pleaded not guilty.
“Police later traced and arrested Mboxwana in New Rest informal settlement,also in Butterworth,after he fled Phumlani to evade arrest. During the trial,he pleaded not guilty to all charges. Regional Court Prosecutor Tembeka Tsofela led compelling evidence from the complainants, first report witnesses, and medical experts, proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The court rejected his defences as self-serving and improbable,including his claim that the first rape was consensual and his alibi that he was with his cousin during the second rape,”Tyali concluded.