Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
25 October 2024
Nhlanhla Themba Mpanza, 37, is currently on trial at the Evander Regional Court, facing multiple charges related to serious crimes allegedly committed in the Govan Mbeki 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 representing himself in court despite the judge’s advice to seek professional legal assistance due to his lack of legal expertise.
During the trial proceedings, two victims took the stand to provide testimonies detailing their encounters with Mpanza. One victim described how Mpanza, driving a maroon Toyota Corolla, picked her up under the pretense of giving her a ride to eMbalenhle, only to later divert to a secluded area where he allegedly assaulted her. After the assault, she testified that Mpanza provided water from the vehicle’s boot for her to “clean herself.”
Another victim testified about a similar encounter, in which Mpanza initially claimed he needed to refuel at a Kinross petrol station before taking her to a remote area near Kinross Dam. There, she stated, he threatened her with a screwdriver and knife before assaulting her. The prosecution presented CCTV footage from the Kinross garage, showing Mpanza removing the number plates from his vehicle while wearing the same t-shirt he wore in court. Despite this evidence, Mpanza insisted on his innocence, claiming he was accompanied only by a mechanic at the time the footage was recorded.
The trial, which resumed on October 22, 2024, is set to continue on December 2, 2024, with additional witnesses and victims expected to testify. Mpanza remains in custody as the case unfolds.
