Police intensify fight against gender-based violence with 196 arrests nationwide

The South African Police Service (SAPS) remains unwavering in its commitment to combat gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), recently leading to the arrest of 196 alleged rape suspects nationwide.

This significant crackdown took place between 1 and 7 September 2025 as part of targeted, intelligence-led operations aimed at enhancing public safety and security.

Among the total arrests, 96 were identified as wanted individuals for rape, while 13 others were apprehended for sexual offences across multiple provinces.

This proactive measure underscores the SAPS’s prioritisation of addressing GBVF through a series of robust initiatives, including an ongoing 90-day blitz focused specifically on sexual offences against vulnerable groups such as women, children, and those with disabilities.

Central to these efforts are the specialised Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) investigators, whose commitment is resolute in ensuring that sexual predators face justice and receive lengthy convictions.

Their meticulous work continues to expose and apprehend offenders, signalling a vital step towards creating a safer environment for all South Africans.

On September 11, the Gauteng FCS unit made a significant breakthrough by arresting a 41-year-old serial rapist linked to a chilling string of crimes, including rape, kidnapping, robbery, and assault. The suspect has been implicated in 45 cases reported at the Diepkloof and Orlando police stations, with additional cases in the North West Province ranging from 2008 to 2025. He is known for preying on female victims aged between 14 and 55 years, often brandishing a firearm and knife while concealing his identity with a balaclava and mask.

The fight against GBVF is further exemplified by the recent convictions across various provinces:

• Limpopo: Kabelo Rodger Sebetha, 24, sentenced to 10 years for the rape of a 21-year-old woman in Ga-Maponto in January 2022.
• Free State: Mothae Augastina Rahlao, 34, handed a life sentence for raping a 15-year-old minor in Meloding on 24 November 2022.
• Free State: Tsotang Francis Dineka, 51, sentenced to 20 years for the rape of a 21-year-old woman and breaching a protection order.
• Northern Cape: Alex Thato Tshipagaebonwe, 19, was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 6-year-old girl in Batlharos near Kuruman in September 2021.
• Gauteng: Musa Maicana, 27, was given three life sentences plus 300 years for 43 counts including multiple rapes, armed robbery, and possession of dangerous weapons connected to various cases in and around Tembisa.

The SAPS urges citizens to actively participate in the fight against GBVF by reporting perpetrators and standing against any form of abuse. 

IOL