Court hands Moses Gqesha eight life terms for 2010 rape of businesswoman Andy Kawa

JOHANNESBURG - The Eastern Cape High Court has sentenced Moses Gqesha to eight life terms for the rape of Gauteng businesswoman, Andy Kawa.

Gqesha’s sentence was handed down on Thursday, 15 years after the crime.

Gqesha will also be serving time for robbery, kidnapping, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and theft.

In the State's arguments for the appropriate sentence for Gqesha, prosecutors told the court that the Eastern Cape man had a history of run-ins with the law, dating back to 1993.

Senior State advocate, Ismat Cerfontein, called for harsh punishment for the long-lasting trauma he has caused Kawa and her family.

Kawa had gone for a walk in December 2010 when she noticed Gqesha behaving suspiciously.

He later accosted her, robbed her of her valuables and assaulted her in a secluded area.

Provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Luxolo Tyali, said: "A medical examination was conducted, and forensic samples were collected. Gqesha was only arrested in 2020 following his involvement in an unrelated theft case, where his DNA was taken and later linked to the samples collected in the 2010 incident."

The NPA said it remained resolute in its mission to restore trust in the criminal justice system.