How officer Sonwabile Dlomo helped put serial rapist Glass Lechesa behind bars

Bongani Bingwa speaks with Sonwabile Dlomo, a detective in the Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations Unit in Zwelitsha.

Listen below.

Warrant officer Sonwabile Dlomo is a detective in Zwelitsha, East London, who has played an essential role in getting rapists off the streets.

His latest arrest led to the conviction of serial rapist Glass Lechesa, who has raped 13 women, the youngest of whom was only 13.

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In the last 19 years, he has helped put 16 rapists behind bars, securing 23 life terms.

Dlomo has wanted to be a police officer since he was a child and his father’s car was stolen.

He says it is an extremely difficult job, and he has dealt with some traumatic cases, including that of Glass Lechesa.

“These cases of rape are very serious and very traumatic for the victims.”

- Sonwabile Dlomo, Detective - SAPS

Lechesa had been raping women since around 2015 and would wear a balaclava so victims could not identify him.

He was arrested in 2019 after raping a young girl without his balaclava but was released pending investigation as there was not a strong enough case against him.

However, this arrest led to his DNA being on record, which allowed Dlomo to connect him to other cases.

“When you are doing these cases, you do not just take what is given to you by the database. You have to spread your net.”

- Sonwabile Dlomo, Detective - SAPS

Lechesa was rearrested in 2023 and sentenced to six life sentences.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.