In a significant victory against gender-based violence, the Sterkspruit Regional Court has sentenced 30-year-old Zamikhaya Jonase, a Lesotho national, to two life terms for the brutal rape of two elderly women in the Eastern Cape.
Jonase was convicted on April 28,2026, following a relentless investigation that spanned nearly a decade of evidence gathering.
The sentencing brings closure to two harrowing cases that shocked the local community due to the predatory nature of the crimes and the extreme vulnerability of the victims.
A timeline of brutality
The court heard details of two separate attacks characterised by extreme violence and total disregard for the victims' ages.
The first incident occurred on 11 August 2016, in Hillside village. Jonase forced his way into the home of an 80-year-old woman while she was asleep. Despite the victim's brave attempts to fight back, Jonase returned after an initial struggle, struck her in the face with an object, and raped her.
The second attack took place seven years later on 13 August 2023, in Jozana village. A 91-year-old woman awoke to find the suspect in her bed. Armed with a knife, Jonase raped the victim twice.
The breakthrough: DNA and detective work
Jonase was eventually linked to the crimes through forensic science. While he was already in custody at Sterkspruit Correctional Services for other matters, DNA evidence officially connected the Lesotho national to both cases on 13 June 2025.
Following his first court appearance in August 2025, bail was denied, leading to the successful prosecution and recent guilty verdict.
Official commendation
Lieutenant General Vuyisile Ncata, the Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, welcomed the double life sentence and praised the dedication of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“These were brutal, predatory attacks on our grandmothers, members of society who deserve protection and respect,”stated Lt. Gen. Ncata.
He specifically commended Detective Warrant Officer SA Mokheseng and the Sterkspruit Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. Their commitment to using DNA technology proved that, in the Joe Gqabi District, perpetrators cannot escape the long arm of the law and that justice has no expiry date.
The SAPS continues to highlight these successes as part of the broader effort to end Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) across the province.