Former SANDF Employee Sentenced For Infecting Partner With HIV

A Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has sentenced Leon Santos Conga, a 48-year-old former SANDF employee, to life in prison for raping his girlfriend.

Conga also received an additional 10-year sentence for attempted murder after knowingly exposing and infecting her with HIV. Both sentences will run concurrently.

According to NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, Conga and the victim were in a relationship between December 2016 and April 2017. Before their relationship began, the victim tested negative for HIV on December 1, 2016.

NEWS: A former South African National Defence Force (SANDF) member has been sentenced to life behind bars for infecting his partner with HIV.
Leon Santos Conga had unprotected sex with her partner even though he knew that he was HIV positive since 2007.
The victim was being… pic.twitter.com/NbAM725bUD

— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) September 25, 2024

When she asked Conga about his HIV status, he lied, claiming to be HIV negative. The victim insisted on using protection, but Conga removed the condom during two instances of intimacy.

When the victim later fell ill, she tested positive for HIV. Despite confronting Conga, he denied infecting her.

She reported the incident in May 2017, and after gathering evidence, the case was reopened in August 2021.

During the trial, medical records showed that Conga had tested positive for HIV as early as 2007, proving he was aware of his status.

The court found that he showed no remorse, and Regional Magistrate Fikiswa Ntlati emphasized the serious and lasting harm caused to the victim.

The NPA welcomed the sentencing, stating that sexual crimes of this nature will be met with the full force of the law.