Donell Mbele, son of actress Sonia Mbele, faces two charges of rape after his girlfriend filed a complaint.
The rape case against Donell Mbele, the 23-year-old son of Blood & Water actress Sonia Mbele, has been postponed to 14 April 2025 for further investigations. Mbele appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court recently, where he faced two charges of rape following allegations made by his 17-year-old girlfriend.
Details of the Allegations
The complainant alleges that Donell Mbele raped her on 14 and 15 December 2024 at his home in Morningside, Johannesburg. According to her police statement, the couple had been on a date at Clearwater Mall on 14 December, where they consumed drinks.
As the restaurant was closing, they decided to move to another venue, but Donell reportedly suggested stopping by his house to charge his phone. It was at this point that the alleged sexual assault took place.
Mbele is currently out on R1 000 bail.
Previous Allegations Against Donell Mbele
This is not the first time Donell has been accused of abuse. In 2022, his ex-girlfriend, Reokeditswe Makete, accused him of physical assault and posted images of her injuries on social media.
Following those allegations, Sonia Mbele sent her son to rehab and issued a public statement, saying she wished she had taken earlier preventive measures, such as therapy or counselling. She acknowledged that Donell needed to face his demons and take accountability for his actions.
Upcoming Court Appearance
Donell Mbele will return to the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on 14 April 2025, where further investigations into the rape allegations will continue.
This developing case has sparked significant attention, particularly given Mbele’s previous history of alleged gender-based violence (GBV). Many South Africans will be closely following the outcome of the trial.
