The Brakpan Regional Court has handed down a life imprisonment sentence to a man found guilty of rape and domestic violence.

Bongani Mehlwana (38) was sentenced to life imprisonment on February 26.

He was arrested on August 15, 2022, for the rape and domestic violence against his 40-year-old partner and the assault of her son.

The arrest came two days after the incident, and Mehlwana was released on bail until he entered his plea. The charges laid against him were:

• Count one: Domestic violence. Mehlwana pulled the victim’s hair, beat her with his fists and dragged her to the scene of her rape.

• Count two: Rape.

• Count three: Assault of the victim’s son with an unknown object.

On November 7, 2025, he pleaded guilty to count one, but not guilty to counts two and three. On February 25, he was acquitted of count one, on account that it was a duplicate charge that should have been part of the rape charge.

He was also acquitted of count three, as the court found that the aggressor was the son and that the accused acted in defence of himself and his property.

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