Alleged serial rapist and killer soon to face judgement in Secunda court

Themba Shongwe, the alleged serial killer and rapist from eMbalenhle, will face judgment in the Secunda Regional Court on December 12.

Shongwe faces charges of raping and killing four girls from eMbalenhle between 2016 and 2019 before his arrest.

The murdered girls are cousins Nokulunga (13) and Lerato Nkutha (11), Cynthia Masilela (16) and Mihle Zingamo (14).

Their bodies were found dumped in the street in Ext 17, not far from the accused’s home. Shongwe is also being prosecuted on additional rape charges filed by surviving victims.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges since his arrest in 2019. During the trial, he disputed the DNA results linking him to some of the crimes.

Those called to testify as witnesses included doctors who examined the bodies of the deceased, forensic science laboratory specialists or analysts, police officers who attended the crime scenes, pathologists, the investigating officer, Sergeant Hezekiel

Malapela, who works mainly on serial cases, and the families of the murdered girls. Shongwe also testified during his trial.

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