A well-known traditional healer from Botlokwa in Limpopo has been sentenced to life in prison for raping a 15-year-old girl.
This was revealed by Limpopo Police Spokesperson Captain Malesela Ledwaba in a media statement on Wednesday, 24 June 2026.
Ledwaba said the sangoma, Mahlatse Alex Ramokgobathi, 30, was arrested by the Polokwane Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit after plundering the teenager.
He said on 3 October 2023, at approximately 21:00, Ramokgobathi arrived at the victim’s family home to perform traditional healing on her ailing father. After completing the treatment, Ramokgobathi suggested he also treat the children. The parents consented, trusting the healer, even at such late hours.
Accompanied by his assistant, Ramokgobathi took the victim and her older sister to a nearby river. Upon arrival, he instructed his assistant to attend to the victim’s elder sister. He then remained alone with the victim, whom he raped. After committing the offence, he threatened to kill the victim and her parents if she reported the crime to them or to police.
The truth came to light when the victim eventually disclosed what had happened to her other sister. The case was reported at Botlokwa Police Station and subsequently transferred to the Polokwane FCS Unit for further investigation.
The matter was assigned to Sergeant Edward Rasemane, who conducted a thorough and professional investigation. The sangoma was arrested and appeared in the Morebeng Magistrate’s Court, where bail was granted. He remained on bail throughout the proceedings until the matter was finalised.
On Monday, 22 June 2026, the Morebeng Magistrate’s Court found Ramokgobathi guilty of rape and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
In addition to the sentence, the court declared him unfit to possess a firearm. His particulars have been entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.
“This case is a sobering reminder that abuse can be perpetrated by those who are most trusted, even those we invite into our homes to care for our children. The accused betrayed that sacred trust in the most heinous way imaginable, and the life sentence is the only fitting punishment. I commend the investigating officer for the diligent investigation,” said Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo.
