Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo

04 July 2025

Themba Mpanza reappeared before the Evander Regional court on Wednesday,30 July 2025, for the proceeding of his trial.

He is facing multiple charges related to serious crimes allegedly committed within the Govan Mbeki municipality and the Nkomazi local municipality. These include six counts of rape, six counts of kidnapping, and one count of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH).

Mpanza, who was a teacher at a primary school in eMbalenhle at the time of his arrest, is still representing himself in court despite the judge’s advice to seek professional legal assistance due to his lack of legal expertise.

One of his rape victims, who is from the Nkomazi area in the Ehlanzeni local municipality, took the stand to testify on the incident that took place on the 14 December 2019 near Embuzini, however, Mpanza asked to be excused complaining of a stomach bug, and refused to cross-examine the victim, alleging that he did not know her.

The court proceeded with cross-examination of the victim in Mpanza’s absence.

She detailed how Mpanza sexually assaulted her in his maroon motor vehicle and tried to throw her from the bridge after the ordeal.

When he failed to proceed with throwing her off and seeing a car approaching, he then fled the scene, leaving the victim behind.

According to the victim, the car stopped and help took her to the eMbangwane police station, and she was transferred to Tonga police station and hospital.

The victim further testified that she saw Mpaza a few days after the incident, and later had a dream while taking a nap, seeing him at a garage. She told the court she was a gifted sangoma, and upon having that dream, she woke up and went to the garage, which is near Tonga police station, where she saw Mpanza. She quickly informed the investigation officer, and they called for backup, leading to his arrest.

He was later rearrested again in 2021 in the Govan Mbeki Municipality area after being linked to a series of hitchhiking young women and sexually assaulting them in his motor vehicle.

His matter has been postponed to 18 August 2025 for more witnesses to testify.