Social media rapist gets four life terms
Victor Mokoena is found guilty of raping four young women he lured through social media with promises of modelling.
A South African man, Victor Mokoena, has been sentenced to four life terms in prison for repeatedly raping and assaulting young women he met through social media. The Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg found Mokoena guilty of four counts of rape, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and simulating a firearm.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentences, noting that Mokoena operated in Johannesburg between March 2021 and October 2024, targeting vulnerable young women through Facebook and Instagram. He posed as a photographer or promoter, offering modelling, promotional, and photoshoot opportunities in exchange for meeting him.
Once at these secluded locations, Mokoena raped, assaulted, and in some cases, strangled his victims. The NPA's involvement in the investigation linked several cases through similarities in Mokoena's modus operandi and digital evidence obtained from the victims. State advocate Hope Zwane argued that Mokoena's deliberate planning and persistence in targeting and luring victims to secluded locations demonstrated a danger to society, which the court agreed with.
The NPA commended the thorough investigation by authorities and emphasized the importance of caution when responding to unsolicited offers on social media.
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