The South African Police Service in the Lephalale Cluster conducted a successful sting joint operation composed of various Police Units including the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) and made a major breakthrough in arresting a highly wanted serial rapist aged 37, yesterday on 04 December 2018 in the afternoon.
The preliminary Police investigations have revealed that the suspect is linked to four separate rape incidents which took place in the Marapong area outside Lephalale between the years 2015 and 2018.
The first alleged incident happened on the15th of December 2015 at about 23:00pm. A 34-year-old woman was walking through an informal settlement in this area when she was struck with a hard object on the head, leaving her unconscious. Subsequent to this attack, the victim was raped and robbed of her belongings such as clothing, cash amount of money and cellphone.
Meanwhile, on the 21st of February 2016 at about 02:00am, another victim was walking with her friend from the party. Along the way, she was hit with a hard object. She collapsed and her friend managed to escape unhurt. The suspect dragged the victim to the nearby park and raped her.
The third incident allegedly took place on the 1st of May 2018 at about 23:00. The victim was walking along the street when the suspect hit her with a hard object on the head. He then dragged her to a nearby house and raped her.
A fourth incident took place on the 1st of July 2018, near one of the local car washes in the area. The suspect allegedly attacked and dragged the victim to a secluded area and raped her.
This suspect was previously arrested and sentenced to two years imprisonment for burglary before he was released on parole, which will end in June 2019.
The suspect will appear before the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court soon on four cases of rape.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has complimented the Lephalale Cluster Team of members including the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for the job well done.
“The arrest of this suspect will send a clear and strong message to all the perpetrators of the gender based violence out there that their days are numbered, unless they stop this heinous acts now, not so, they are going to be dealt with mercilessly and without compromise,” concluded General Ledwaba.
The Police investigations are still continuing.
