Ermelo man sentenced to life for brutal attack on woman

ERMELO – Sifiso Praisegod Vilakazi (34) of Thusi Village has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Ermelo Regional Court for the brutal attack on a 54-year-old Wesselton woman.

According to NPA provincial spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, Vilakazi was convicted of robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder, resisting arrest and negligent driving.

The court heard that on September 20, 2025, the victim was driving her Ford Ranger in Wesselton on her way home when Vilakazi suddenly opened the driver’s door and threatened her with a knife.

After forcing her from the vehicle, Vilakazi repeatedly stabbed her in her thighs, wrists, hands and upper arms before fleeing the scene in her vehicle.

The victim sustained severe and life-threatening injuries and was hospitalised for two weeks, during which she received extensive medical treatment.

“Following the attack, police traced the stolen vehicle as Vilakazi drove towards Amsterdam. Despite clear instructions to stop, he ignored law enforcement officers and sped away to evade arrest,” Nyuswa said.

Police were compelled to take decisive action and shot one of the vehicle’s tyres, causing it to lose control and crash.

Vilakazi was arrested at the scene.

During the trial, Vilakazi pleaded guilty to attempted murder and negligent driving but denied intending to rob the victim.

State prosecutor Chané Rothman successfully proved the robbery charge by presenting compelling evidence, including the victim’s testimony about the attack.

The state also presented a J88 medical report detailing the severity and extent of her injuries.

The court found the state’s evidence credible, reliable and supported by the medical findings, resulting in convictions on all four charges.

In her victim impact statement, the complainant described the profound physical, emotional, psychological and financial consequences of the attack.

She told the court that some of her wounds have not fully healed, continue to cause severe pain and have permanently affected her ability to walk.

The victim also testified that she believed she was going to die during the attack and continues to receive counselling to deal with the trauma. Her vehicle was also declared a write-off following the incident.

During sentencing proceedings, Rothman argued that the victim’s survival was ‘nothing short of a miracle’, pointing out that stab wounds inflicted near her femoral artery could have resulted in fatal blood loss.

The state also presented a photographic album showing the extent of the injuries sustained by the complainant.

Rothman argued that the attack was exceptionally violent, callous and wholly unjustified, demonstrating a blatant disregard for human life.

She urged the court not to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence, emphasising the need for a punishment that reflects the seriousness of the offences.

The court sentenced Vilakazi to 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, life imprisonment for attempted murder, six months’ imprisonment for resisting arrest and four months’ imprisonment for negligent driving.

The court ordered all sentences to run concurrently with the life sentence, resulting in an effective sentence of life imprisonment. Vilakazi was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

Nyuswa said the NPA welcomed the sentence, adding that the outcome demonstrates the commitment of the criminal justice system to holding violent offenders accountable and ensuring justice for victims of serious crime.

“This sentence serves as a clear warning that those who commit brutal and senseless acts of violence will face the full might of the law. The NPA remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting communities, upholding the rights of victims, and ensuring that offenders are held accountable for their actions,” she concluded.