Father of Six Jailed for Life After Brutal Rape Spree in Cape Town

A 40-year-old man from Cape Town, Lungile Buhlungu, has been sentenced to six life imprisonments plus an additional 50 years after being convicted of multiple violent crimes, including the rape of six women, some of whom were attacked at gunpoint and assaulted in a cemetery.

The Western Cape High Court delivered the judgment on Wednesday, June 19, following a highly emotional trial during which all six victims courageously testified behind closed doors.

Buhlungu’s offences spanned from 2014 to 2019 and included:

Six counts of rape, each earning a life sentence

Four counts of kidnapping

Two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm

One count of robbery with aggravating circumstances

One count of illegal possession of a firearm

He was further sentenced to five years each for the kidnapping and assault charges, 15 years for the robbery, and five years for the firearm offence.

According to the prosecution, Buhlungu and an armed accomplice abducted and raped three women on July 11, 2014, after forcing them into the bushes. They were released the following morning. In October 2017, a fourth victim was discovered unconscious and severely injured in a cemetery. She had known Buhlungu from their shared community and later relocated to another province due to the trauma.

On May 12, 2018, two more women were assaulted at the Delft graveyard, where they were raped at gunpoint. Both later testified that the experience left lasting scars on their personal and emotional lives.

Despite DNA evidence directly connecting him to the attacks, Buhlungu pleaded not guilty, claiming he had been incarcerated in 2014 and that subsequent encounters were consensual. His defence was dismissed by the court.

The state presented expert testimony from Lt-Col Elmarie Alta Myburgh, a veteran investigator in sexual offences and behavioural risk. Myburgh described Buhlungu as a high-risk offender likely to reoffend, recommending long-term incarceration.

The court also ordered that Buhlungu be psychologically assessed by the Department of Correctional Services to determine his suitability for rehabilitation programs focused on sexual offenders.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) commended the victims’ bravery. Spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said, “These women stood face-to-face with their rapist during the trial, reliving their trauma to ensure he is no longer a threat to others.”

The sentencing brings closure to a chilling case that terrorised Delft communities for nearly five years, while also reinforcing the judiciary’s resolve to protect survivors and ensure that justice is served. sofi rain