14/06/2026
Justice Served
Well done SAPS and NPA
RA**ST SENTENCED TO LIFE BEHIND BARS
On Tuesday, 09 June 2026 the Molopo Regional Court sentenced Elias Lekganyane (44) to life imprisonment plus twenty years and six months.
Evidence before court revealed that on Tuesday night, 15 August 2023, in Pearl Street, Reviera Park, Mahikeng, the complainant, aged 55, was asleep in her residence. She then woke up after hearing some movement in the house and she went to investigate.
She met her attacker inside the passage, after he gained entry through a window.
The convict grabbed her, throttled her, and used a rope to tighten her feet and hands.
He started gathering valuables from the house and took it outside and then r***d her.
He then proceeded to load the valuables into the victims car, returned inside the house and r***d her a second time.
He then went outside to start the complainant's car, but couldn't drive it and came back to r**e her for the third time.
The victim identified Elias Lekganyanethe and he was arrested a week later on Tuesday, 22 August 2023, by Detective Sergeant Ferdinand Mxolisi Majova from Mahikeng Detectives. On Thursday, 24 August 2023, he appeared before court for the first time and has been in custody ever since.
The accused was found guilty of all six counts and sentenced as follows:
- 3 x counts of R**e: Life Imprisonment (all counts of r**e taken together for the purpose of sentencing).
- Housebreaking with intent to rob: 5 years Imprisonment
- Robbery with Aggravating Circumstances: 15 years Imprisonment.
- Contravening Immigration Act of South Africa: 6 months (Botswana National).
Futhermore, Elias Lekganyane's name will be entered into the National Register of Sexual Offenders in terms of section 50 (2) of the criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, Act 32 of 2007. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103(1) of the Fi****ms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000.
The Ngaka Modiri Molema District Commissioner, Maj Gen Deborah Mmolawa, welcomed the sentenced and applauded the meticulous investigation of Detective Sergeant Majova and the dedication of the NPA prosecutor, Advocate Diseko, in making sure that the suspect was brought to justice.