Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo

27 June 2025

A 38-year-old serial rapist, Elphas Ellias Shabangu was sentenced by the Volksrust Regional Court to three life terms on Wednesday, 25 June 2025. Shabangu was involved in the rape of three minors. The sentencing has been hailed by the Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi.

In the first incident in Piet Retief, which occurred on 11 October 2023 at approximately 18h30, the accused approached an 08-year-old female victim while she was at home, next to the gate. He asked her to buy a box of matches from a nearby shop, handed her R5, and told her she could keep R2.

When she returned, the accused who was unknown to the victim at the time, persuaded her to accompany him to a nearby sports ground. Upon arrival, he grabbed her and raped her, then fled the scene.

The second incident occured in Piet Retief on 18 October 2023, at approximately 18h00 whereby a nine-year-old victim was targeted by the accused. The girl was playing with her younger brother, and she was approached by Shabangu, who asked her to call his female friend. He then followed her to an abandoned house near a certain church and raped her. After that, he gave her R2 and instructed her not to tell anyone. He was unknown to the victim at the time but later, he was identified.

The third incident occurred in Volkrust on 17 August 2024, around 11h00 am. In this incident, an 11-year-old female victim was playing with her younger brothers at their home when the accused approached her, then convinced her to call his female friend. He further informed the young girl that the so called ‘female friend’ was nearby. The victim trusted him and as she proceeded, he followed her and eventually raped her. Thereafter, he severely assaulted her before he fled. With the help of some local community members, the victim reported the incident to the Police. A case was opened then assigned to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. The accused was arrested on 24 August 2024 after being identified by the victim. Further investigation connected the accused to the rape cases in Piet Retief.

The accused abandoned his bail application and remained in custody from the date of his arrest until the day of sentencing.

The state presented a watertight case against him and he eventually pleaded guilty to all three counts.

Shabangu was sentenced as follows:

 • Count 1 – Rape: Life imprisonment.

 • Count 2 – Rape: Life imprisonment.

 • Count 3 – Rape: Life imprisonment.

The court ordered that Counts 2 and 3 run concurrently with Count 1. The accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm. The court ordered that his name be entered into the National Register of in the  Register for Sex Offenders.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has welcomed the sentencing and commended both the Investigation team, the Prosecution team and the Judiciary. “Perpetrators of Gender-Based-Violence are given the taste of their medicine and we hope that this sentence will reignite hope to victims, that if one commits crime, then there are consequences, ” said the General.