The sentencing of a Johannesburg man to four life terms for luring women through fake modelling and photoshoot opportunities has reignited concerns about the risks facing aspiring talent who encounter professional offers through social media platforms.
Victor Mokoena, 26, was convicted of four counts of rape, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and pointing an object resembling a firearm. The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that Mokoena operated in and around Johannesburg between March 2021 and October 2024, presenting himself as a photographer or promoter when communicating with young women through Facebook and Instagram.
He reportedly used offers of modelling, promotional, and photoshoot opportunities to arrange meetings with his victims. Once they arrived at agreed locations, Mokoena took them to secluded areas where he raped and assaulted them. In some instances, he strangled victims, threatened them with an object resembling a firearm, and robbed them of their belongings. He also allegedly deleted conversations and contact details from their phones.
Brandspur Brand News gathered that the investigation linked several cases through similarities in Mokoena’s modus operandi and digital evidence obtained from victims. Investigators established that he had used different names when communicating with women, complicating efforts to identify him until Sergeant Nedombeloni connected the separate cases.
The case bears similarities to the earlier crimes of Thabo Bester, dubbed the “Facebook rapist,” who used the platform to lure women with promises of modelling opportunities before being convicted of rape and murder. While the two cases are unrelated, both demonstrate how an identity presented online can differ significantly from an individual’s real-world identity.
For women seeking opportunities in modelling, media, entertainment, and promotions, social platforms have become part of the route through which professional contacts are made. The NPA said that professional context was used by Mokoena to gain access to his victims, exploiting the trust that aspiring talent places in legitimate-sounding offers.
State Advocate Hope Zwane argued in aggravation of sentence that Mokoena’s deliberate planning and persistence in identifying and luring victims to secluded locations demonstrated that he posed a danger to society. The court concurred, finding that Mokoena had treated his victims with disdain and used derogatory language towards them.
Mokoena was sentenced to life imprisonment on each of the four rape counts. He received a further 15 years for robbery with aggravating circumstances, two years for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and one year for pointing an object resembling a firearm. The sentences on the remaining counts will run concurrently with the life sentences.
The NPA welcomed the sentences and commended the investigating officers and prosecution team for linking the various cases. The authority has urged members of the public, particularly young people, to exercise caution when responding to unsolicited offers on social media and to verify individuals’ identities before meeting them in person.
The case serves as a stark reminder that the digital platforms increasingly used for legitimate professional networking in the creative industries can also be weaponised by predators. For aspiring models, photographers, and creatives building careers online, the challenge lies in distinguishing genuine opportunities from sophisticated traps.
