JOHANNESBURG -  Brigadier Gerald Labuschagne of the police's investigative psychology unit said in a pre-sentencing report that Reginald Temana could be classified as a serial rapist.

He had used the same modus operandi often seen in other serial rapists in South Africa. This included targeting and raping women, mostly strangers, outside in public spaces, approaching the victim and raping her in one area, and displaying a weapon to control the victim.

Labuschagne said most South African serial rapes happened in the day, and serial rapists took few precautions to hide their identity or prevent leaving forensic evidence.

"It is generally believed that serial rapists cannot be rehabilitated," Labuschagne said.

He told the court there were numerous serial rapists who often committed the same crime when released on bail or granted parole.

Labuschagne said any sexual offender was extremely difficult to rehabilitate, since their crimes were linked to their sex drive.

"The accused still claims he had the consent of these complainants to engage in sexual intercourse with them. As long as he maintains this attitude, rehabilitation cannot proceed," Labuschagne said.

Temana, 21, who claimed his victims were part of his harem of girlfriends, was earlier convicted on eight charges of rape, one of attempted rape, three of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and five of theft.

He raped eight women and attempted to rape a ninth in the bushes near the Pretoria zoo between October 2009 and March 2010.

All the women testified how the short, friendly Temana turned into a brutal rapist after approaching them on the streets of central Pretoria. He threatened and assaulted his victims, forced them into the bushes and raped them.

The youngest of his victims was 16. He robbed all of the women of their cellphones and money. In one case he took his victim's shoes.

His last victim was waiting for her boyfriend in the street after Temana had raped her when she saw him walking by. She alerted a group of taxi drivers who caught him and handed him to the police.

Temana was linked to the seven rape victims through DNA from his semen.

Probation officer Monica Mandivavarira recommended life imprisonment for Temana as he had failed to take responsibility for his actions.

Temana had never met his two-year-old son, who was born while he was in jail.

He only passed grade three and worked as a hawker.

Sentence would be passed on September 11.