Johannesburg - Sergeant Grace Mampholo’s passion is to help sexually abused women and children.
A member of the SA Police Service since 1992, Mampholo has made it her goal to put rapists behind bars.
“I only deal with life sentences,” she said proudly.
The 45-year-old was responsible for taking down Mpho Rakgwale, South Africa’s youngest serial rapist known to the National Prosecuting Authority.
“He started when he was just 17. He was arrested and submitted to a diversion programme. When he was released, he started again,” Mampholo said.
Rakgwale continued with his raping spree in 2010 and was eventually arrested.
But the case again faced a hiccup as Rakgwale was released due to outstanding documents and technicalities.
“The DNA helped us nail him and link him to all the cases. In some of them the perpetrator was unknown, but the DNA linked them to Rakgwale,” Mampholo explained.
Rakgwale’s rape spree ended in 2012.
The hardest part for Mampholo was telling the victims that they had to relive their trauma.
“Imagine having to knock on their doors two years later, to tell them the perpetrator had been found again. It wasn’t easy for them to take it all in. It was a surprise to them,” she said.
Mampholo has been working in the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for 12 years, and it’s through her skills training that she has been able to help many rape victims.
“Those who have anger issues especially. We have to get to their level and convince them that it’s not their fault. It’s hard for them to know that they have been raped and don’t know where the rapist is or if he’ll come back.”
When the Rakgwale case finally came to an end, Mampholo felt a huge sense of relief.
“It was an unbelievable happiness. I was happy to finally bring closure to the victims. To see them smile and bring back that hope they once had,” she said.
Rakgwale still has three outstanding cases he has to answer for and another one pending.
He is already serving six life sentences and 230 years for his rape spree.
Mampholo is also behind putting away Tebogo Singo, who was sentenced to life in prison last year for a Christmas Day gang rape in 2006.
Another case she is happy to be done with is that of Zacharia Buthelezi, who raped a 9-year-old girl.
He received a life sentence last year.
Based at the Moroka cluster in Soweto, Mampholo, with the assistance of her partner Constable Tshepo Mohlakwane, has put at least 10 perpetrators away with life sentences.
“This job has taught me a lot about investigating. I learn new things every day. It has taught me so much more about myself. Never did I think that I would investigate serial rapists,” she said.
The challenges that come with the job are many. Mampholo has two children who have to sacrifice time with their mother in order for her to do her job. It is also a job that is emotionally draining.
“Seeing victims cry is painful. Going to the scenes and witnessing the trauma can be scary. You have to be strong for them,” she said.
Nineteen of her 39 rape dockets are done and dusted, all of them with positive convictions. She is certain the remaining 20 will prove just as fruitful.
“I love my work. I feel most comfortable working in this unit and helping people. My plans for 2015 involve locking even more perpetrators up. If they even think of raping, they will find me waiting to send them to prison,” she said.
The Star