Life Imprisonment for ex-SANDF employee for raping and Infecting grlfriend with HIV”

A former South African National Defence Force (SANDF) employee, Leon Santos Conga, 48, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his girlfriend and knowingly infecting her with HIV.

The Pretoria Magistrates’ Court also handed down a 10-year direct imprisonment sentence for attempted murder, to run concurrently.

According to Lumka Mahanjana, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Pretoria Regional Spokesperson, Conga and the victim were in a four-month relationship from December 2016 to April 201

“The victim had done an HIV test on December 1, 2016, which came back negative. When she started dating Conga, she insisted on knowing his HIV status, but he lied, saying he was HIV negative.”

Conga removed the condom during intimacy, despite the victim’s condition of “no condom, no sex.”
After the victim tested positive for HIV, she confronted Conga, who denied infecting her.
Mahanjana noted that the case was initially withdrawn due to insufficient evidence but was re-enrolled in 2021 after further investigations.

During the trial, Professor Terresa Russouw, an HIV expert, testified about the effects of HIV, helping prove the attempted murder charge.

The state also presented evidence showing Conga first tested HIV positive in 2007, proving he knew his status when he infected the victim.

Advocate Emile Van der Merwe argued for a life imprisonment sentence, citing the seriousness of the crime and Conga’s betrayal of the victim’s trust.

The Regional Magistrate agreed, stating Conga showed no remorse and committed a devastating offense.

Mahanjana welcomed the sentence, saying, “The NPA appreciates the contribution of AfriForum towards the successful prosecution of this case. We send a clear message that offences with permanent adverse impact on victims will not be tolerated. Sexual crime offenders will face the full might of the law.”

A former South African National Defence Force (SANDF) employee, Leon Santos Conga, 48, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping his girlfriend and knowingly infecting her with HIV.

The Pretoria Magistrates’ Court also handed down a 10-year direct imprisonment sentence for attempted murder, to run concurrently.

According to Lumka Mahanjana, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Pretoria Regional Spokesperson, Conga and the victim were in a four-month relationship from December 2016 to April 2017.

“The victim had done an HIV test on December 1, 2016, which came back negative. When she started dating Conga, she insisted on knowing his HIV status, but he lied, saying he was HIV negative.”

Conga removed the condom during intimacy, despite the victim’s condition of “no condom, no sex.”

After the victim tested positive for HIV, she confronted Conga, who denied infecting her.

Mahanjana noted that the case was initially withdrawn due to insufficient evidence but was re-enrolled in 2021 after further investigations.

During the trial, Professor Terresa Russouw, an HIV expert, testified about the effects of HIV, helping prove the attempted murder charge.

The state also presented evidence showing Conga first tested HIV positive in 2007, proving he knew his status when he infected the victim.

Advocate Emile Van der Merwe argued for a life imprisonment sentence, citing the seriousness of the crime and Conga’s betrayal of the victim’s trust.

The Regional Magistrate agreed, stating Conga showed no remorse and committed a devastating offense.

Mahanjana welcomed the sentence, saying, “The NPA appreciates the contribution of AfriForum towards the successful prosecution of this case. We send a clear message that offences with permanent adverse impact on victims will not be tolerated. Sexual crime offenders will face the full might of the law.”