Two years ago, Constable Tlala Mokoena made a promise to the parents of 11 boys that he would bring the man who had raped their children to book.
|||Durban - Two years ago, Constable Tlala Mokoena made a promise to the parents of 11 boys that he would bring the man who robbed them of their innocence and dignity to book.
It was a tough promise to make to an even tougher crowd.
The parents were despondent, deeply hurt, and some had little to no faith in the profession that Mokoena prides himself in.
And in making his promise, Mokoena, a deeply religious man, knew he had to summon the only other helper he knew.
“I told them: I, Mokoena, am now in charge, but I am not alone... I am with Jesus.’
“And I told them that Jesus and I formed a very formidable team,” he said.
On Tuesday last week, the 35-year-old officer, working at the provincial SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, fulfilled his promise.
Convicted serial rapist John Gcinumuzi Mhlambi, 31, was sentenced at the Vereeniging Circuit Court to 12 life imprisonments for the charge of rape, a total of 12 years for four counts of sexual assault, a total of 75 years for five charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, a total of six years for two counts of kidnapping, a total of eight years for forcing a child to witness the commission of a sexual offence and five years for pointing a firearm.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Reginald Dama made special mention of Mokoena’s investigative work, applauding him for his tireless efforts in getting Mhlambi off the streets he used to terrorise in Sebokeng and neighbouring Vaal townships between 2011 and 2014.
With several successful convictions of serial rapists and robbers under his belt, one tends to half-doubt Mokoena’s assertion that he never had aspirations to be an investigator, let alone a police officer, prior to 2006.
“I was working in retail when an aunt of mine gave me an application form to work at the SAPS. It never occurred to me before that I’d be working at the SAPS, but God has his own plans,” Mokoena said with a wry smile.
Mokoena quickly moved from general policing to detecting his first murder scene in March 2008.
It was a case involving David Nocela - a name Mokoena has not forgotten eight years after finding the necessary proof that he’d been involved in the murder of his three girlfriends.
All three women were found in open fields in Orange Farm, in the Vaal area. Two had been strangled.
Mokoena was able to link Nocela to the murders through cellphone and DNA evidence.
“It was my first investigation and I was a bit overwhelmed. The case was also followed by the media, but with the support of my commander, I was able to ease up and we were able to get a successful conviction,” he said.
Beyond motivation and passion for the work, Mokoena said that what was of utmost importance to him was having compassion.
“It needs to be your calling because you go beyond the call of duty every day, sometimes having to sacrifice time with your family for your work. But I am very fortunate to have a very supportive wife who is my pillar of strength. She is my helper from God,” he said, his face brimming with pride.
With yet another case closed, Mokoena’s job is far from done.
He is currently straddling several investigations and awaiting an upcoming judgment in another serial rapist trial.
“It was horrible hearing the boys’ accounts of what happened to them in the Mhlambi case. It was devastating for me. Your mind gets boggled and you can’t comprehend such a thing happening to a child. Even giving the perpetrator a million years in jail can never compensate for what the victims went through, but I am glad and proud that we were able to give them closure. I’m very happy that what God has entrusted upon me has borne fruit,” he added.
He continued: “One of the best things I take away from each serial investigation is the inner peace I experience after changing the lives of the victims, the hope and courage it gives them. I just want them to be better. I want them to be victors.”
vuyo.mkize@inl.co.za
The Star