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NPA SECURES LIFE SENTENCE AGAINST RAPIST AND MURDERER OF 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL

National Prosecuting AuthorityRef: https://www.npa.gov.za/index%2ephp/media/npa-secures-life-sentence-against-rapist-and-murderer-13-year-old-girl

Official source

Source domain: npa.gov.za

Collected on 28 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

Our copy (archived 28 July 2026)Official source

What this means

This is a National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) media release dated 19 June 2026. It reports that the High Court in the Eastern Cape Division, Makhanda, sentenced Nhlanhla Vinjwa (33, of Maletswai) to effective life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl. The release describes how the child was lured into Vinjwa’s residence on 24 July 2024, raped and killed by strangulation, and how the body was later discovered. The NPA says the State Advocate led evidence through multiple witnesses and that the court imposed life imprisonment on both counts, commending the prosecution and law enforcement.

Facts

Places

Eastern Cape

Reference

https://www.npa.gov.za/index%2ephp/media/npa-secures-life-sentence-against-rapist-and-murderer-13-year-old-girl

Key Takeaways

  • Document title: NPA SECURES LIFE SENTENCE AGAINST RAPIST AND MURDERER OF 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL
  • Date of release: 19 Jun 2026
  • Court: High Court, Eastern Cape Division, Makhanda
  • Accused: Nhlanhla Vinjwa (33), Maletswai resident
  • Sentence: effective life imprisonment on both counts (rape and murder)
  • Offence date: 24 July 2024
  • Method of killing: ligature strangulation using a belt; also blunt force head trauma
  • Victim: 13-year-old girl
  • Post-mortem confirmed cause of death and injuries consistent with sexual assault
  • State Advocate: Nolusindiso Phikiso
  • Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (Eastern Cape): Samkelo Mtwana
  • NPA spokesperson (issuer): Luxolo Tyali
  • National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)
  • High Court, Eastern Cape Division, Makhanda
  • Nhlanhla Vinjwa
  • Nolusindiso Phikiso
  • Samkelo Mtwana
  • Luxolo Tyali
  • Eastern Cape Division
  • South African Police Service

Dates

Closing Date

24 July 2024