MBABANE— “Ngitawondliwa ngubani?” (Who is going to take care of me?)
This was the heart-wrenching cry of the mother of the alleged serial rapist, who wept bitterly and collapsed at the Mbabane Magistrates Court yesterday.
The woman’s son, 35-year-old Gabriel Mkhonta, allegedly raped several women at different places in Mbabane.
When his mother wept, the accused, who is facing six counts of rape and robbery had just been remanded in custody.
As her handcuffed son was led away by police officers, the woman’s grief took over; she screamed and collapsed to the floor.
Relatives and police officers rushed to her aid, providing water and assistance as she struggled to process the gravity of the charges against her son. Standing at a distance, Mkhonta was seen wiping tears from his eyes as he watched the scene unfold.
Earlier that morning, Mkhonta, a security guard employed by a reputable local firm, showed a different temperament. Before the magistrate arrived, he attempted to evade cameras before turning to confront the media.
“Senicedzile majita?” (Are you done, gents?) he asked journalists as they took pictures of him in the dock.
Mkhonta, a resident of Fonteyn, is accused of stalking and raping unsuspecting women at various locations around Mbabane, including Mdzangwini and Mahwalala. The court heard that Mkhonta allegedly targeted women aged 25 to 33, often waiting for them at specific times when he knew they would be leaving work.
In one harrowing instance at the Eswatini College of Technology (ECOT), Mkhonta allegedly confessed to waylaying a student and using a bush knife and an Okapi knife to threaten her into submission. Beyond the physical assaults, the Crown alleges that Mkhonta exposed his victims to sexually transmitted illnesses, including HIV/AIDS. In one case involving a 29-year-old victim, he is also charged with robbing her of E40.
During the appearance, the Crown presented several exhibits, including the clothing worn during the alleged crimes and the knives used to threaten the victims. The prosecution successfully applied for the detention of these exhibits.
Additionally, the Crown requested that a blood specimen be extracted from Mkhonta for further investigation.
Magistrates court proceedings concluded with Mkhonta being remanded in custody until February 20, 2026, with his trial set to begin on April 6, 2026. He was advised to notify his legal representative of the date.
In the same court session, two other men appeared on unrelated charges involving rapes of 12-year-old minors.
Sikhumbuzo Dlamini (44), was accused of raping a minor in Mbabane and exposing her to STIs. Interestingly, Dlamini welcomed the Crown’s request for a blood specimen, stating: “I can be happy for that.” His trial is set for February 27, 2026.
Sabatha Nkambule (25) was accused of raping a minor and exposing her to STIs in the Ngwenya area. His trial is scheduled for March 12, 2026.
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