SANDRA LIEBERUM
SANDRA LIEBERUM
Mongezi Samuel Jingxela – allegedly one of South Africa’s worst sex predators – said at his 261-count Johannesburg High Court trial yesterday that he frequently cheated on his customary union wife, and that it was because of jealousy that he was arrested for rape.
The father of two claimed to have had consensual sex with a handful of the 65 victims, some of whom were allegedly raped more than once, and claimed that the 50 people who had positively identified him as a rapist had “made a mistake”.
Jingxela, 48, took to the witness stand yesterday to rebutt the evidence of 119 State witnesses, and claims by prosecutor Louisa Loots that he was a serial rapist linked to 42 victims by DNA, by a stolen cellphone, and by a crime-scene footprint.
Jingxela declined to take the oath yesterday “on religious grounds”, but said he would tell the truth.
The trouble started, Jingxela claimed, when his wife, who lived elsewhere, came to visit while he was home with another woman (one of the complainants).
“They argued over me and almost came to blows,” soon after which Jingxela was arrested for rape, he said.
The so-called “other woman” – witness 97, who was called to testify again 10 days ago – vehemently denied having met Jingxela before the day of the rape, denied ever having been at his home or having argued with his wife.
On November 7, 2006, Jingxela denied 261 counts including 64 of kidnapping, 62 of aggravated assault, 71 of rape and numerous counts of aggravated robbery.
The trial continues.