Life sentence for traditional healer who blamed fatherless upbringing for raping a minor

By Mapaballo Borotho

A Mamelodi traditional healer was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 15-year-old girl in 2020.
The court rejected his request for a lighter sentence despite claims about his upbringing and family responsibilities.
He was also added to the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared unfit to work with children.

A Mamelodi traditional healer has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 15-year-old girl in February 2020.

The Pretoria Magistrates Court slapped Lesiba Victor Marosa, with the lengthy sentence on Thursday, 26 February 2026.

The 49-year-old Marosa, attacked the teenager when she visited his residence to collect medication while running errands for her mother.

According to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, the Pretoria Magistrates Court ordered that his name be added to the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unfit to work with children.

Mahanjana describes the grim details of how the traditional healer sexually violated the 15-year-old on that fateful day in February.

“Marosa took her into his consultation room and asked if the medication he had previously provided for her abdominal pain was effective. When she replied that it was only slightly helping, he placed herbs on his fingers, undressed her, and inserted his fingers into her vagina.

He then told her that the medication needed to penetrate further into her abdomen to work properly. Marosa proceeded to rape her by inserting his penis into her vagina. The minor pushed him away, got dressed, and returned home,” said Mahanjana.

The victim reported the incident through a letter to her mother, and her father opened a case with the South African Police Service. Marosa was arrested on the same day.

During sentencing, he asked the court for leniency, citing that he was a first-time offender, had dependents and grew up without a father.

The court rejected his request, finding no remorse and describing the crime as serious and prevalent.

“The behaviour of the traditional healer shows the court that the lengthy sentences handed down to others for similar offences did not deter him,” said Magistrate Ruby Matlaila.