23 January 2026

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has welcomed the life sentence handed down to Xolani Josiah Mayisela (40).

The Evander Regional Court imposed the hefty sentence on Wednesday, 21 January 2026.

The court heard how the incident occurred in Kinross during December 2021, whereby the female victim, who was 55 years old at the time, was unfortunately raped by her ex-boyfriend.

On 16 December 2021, around 17h00, the victim, who works as a Domestic Worker, was at Kinross, in the bedroom, ironing clothes for her employers.

Whilst talking on the phone with her sister, she suddenly noticed her ex-boyfriend, whom she had a Protection Order against, coming into the bedroom.

She was shocked and wondered how the man gained entry as the gates were locked with the electric fence activated.

Mayisela was said to have mocked the victim and said she thought she was clever.

He further said there was no piece of paper (referring to the Protection Order) that would stop him from gaining access to her.

He then became violent and assaulted her with the iron until she collapsed.

When she regained consciousness, she realized that Mayisela was raping her.

She pushed him away and ran to the main house, but he followed her.

Mayisela grabbed and dragged her back to the bedroom, where repeatedly raped her the whole night.

He further threatened to kill her and her family before he fled.

The victim got assistance from the family of her employers the next day, and the Police were notified.

A case was eventually opened at Kinross SAPS and then assigned to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. 

Police worked around the clock, where they traced and arrested Mayisela.

The state presented a watertight case against him and was found guilty on 05 November 2025.

He was then sentenced as follows:

– On Count 1 of Rape, he was sentenced to Life Imprisonment

– On Count 2 of Contravention of the Protection Order, he was sentenced to two (02) years imprisonment.

– On Count 3 of Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, he was sentenced to five (05)years imprisonment.

The Court ordered all sentences to run concurrently with the life imprisonment (the sentence on Count 1)

Mayisela was also declared unfit to possess a firearm. His particulars will be included in the National Register for Sex Offenders.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, further commended the investigator team, the Prosecution team, and the Judiciar,y which culminated in a well-deserved sentence. “We are pleased with the successful outcome of this case, and this is a testament that anyone who violates a Protection Order will be dealt with accordingly. People should not consider Protection Orders as useless, but are encouraged to report any violations to the authorities, ” said the General.

Ends.