Seven years after the brutal gang assault that left a young woman traumatised and her boyfriend dead, justice has finally caught up with one of the attackers.

The Johannesburg High Court handed down six life sentences and an additional 15 years to 23-year-old Noko Peter Phukubye on September 5.

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National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in Gauteng, Phindi Mjonondwana, said Phukubye was found guilty of multiple counts of rape and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

“The crimes date back to 18 November 2018, when the couple was ambushed in the early hours of the morning while walking in Rabie Ridge, near Midrand. A group of five to six men attacked, bludgeoning the boyfriend and taking turns raping the victim before fleeing with her cellphone. The young man later died from severe head injuries,” said Mjonondwana.

She said detectives linked Phukubye to the case through DNA evidence collected in a separate 2017 crime docket, ultimately leading to his arrest.

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He was denied bail and remained behind bars until his conviction.

Ekurhuleni District Commissioner, Major General Anna Sithole, praised the courage of the survivor in testifying, as well as the meticulous work of Detective Sergeant Mafufuwe Lesford Magwale from the Tembisa Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.

“This sentence ensures that a dangerous individual will never again terrorise our communities,” said Sithole.

Sithole added that Phukubye’s conviction closes a harrowing chapter for Rabie Ridge residents.

However, with several attackers still unidentified, the case continues to raise concerns about violent crime and women’s safety in South Africa.

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