Man sentenced to four life terms after using social media to lure and rape young women

A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to four life terms in prison for a series of rape and sexual assault crimes, according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in South Africa. Victor Mokoena allegedly used social media platforms Facebook and Instagram to target and lure young women between March 2021 and October 2024. Mokoena presented himself as a photographer or promotional figure, offering modeling and photoshoot opportunities to his victims.

However, upon arriving at the agreed locations, Mokoena took the women to secluded areas where he raped and physically assaulted them, sometimes strangling them or threatening them with an object resembling a firearm.

The South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg sentenced Mokoena to life imprisonment for each of the four rape counts, with the remaining charges including robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and pointing an object resembling a firearm. The court ordered that the sentences for the rape cases run consecutively, while the other offenses were served concurrently.

State Advocate Hope Zwane argued during sentencing that Mokoena's actions demonstrated a clear danger to society, noting his meticulous planning and persistence in targeting and isolating his victims.

The NPA praised the thoroughness of the investigation, which revealed similarities in Mokoena's modus operandi and utilized digital evidence from the victims' cellphones. The prosecutor's spokesperson, Magaboke Mohlatlole, emphasized the NPA's commitment to prosecuting sexual offenders and ensuring justice for victims of gender-based violence.