Rapists beware: top cop Tlala Mokoena will catch you!

By Doreen Mokgolo

Tlala Mokoena is being hailed as a hero after helping to convict Ekurhuleni serial rapist Nkosinathi Phakathi, who terrorised over 100 victims  – including 68 young girls – from 2012 to 2020.

Warrant Officer Mokoena works for the Gauteng SAPS family violence, child protection and sexual investigations unit and specialises in tracking down serial rapists.

Phakathi was sentenced to 791 years plus six life sentences on 4 October at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court. He was caught on 17 March 17, when Mokoena’s team raided a house in Etwatwa.

“I promised Nkosinathi’s victims that we would find him and put him away forever,” Mokoena told Scrolla.Africa. “I did this for the 68 young girls who were nine, 10, 12, 13 and 14 years old at the time of these rapes.”

In his 17-year career, Mokoena has put 27 serial rapists behind bars.

Some of the major cases he has cracked include the six taxi driver rapists from Johannesburg and Soweto sentenced to 17 life terms plus 800 years in 2018-19.

“They would pick up commuters, and the last to be dropped off would be robbed of their monies and raped,” he explained.

Mokoena won the Laurette Award at the 2019 SAPS National Excellence Awards and has twice received the National Commissioner’s Special Award.

Pictured above: Warrant Officer Tlala John Mokoena; and with state prosecutor Advocate Salome Scheepers and the 96 dockets that were opened against Nkosinathi Phakathi.

Source: Supplied