FOLLOW-UP: ‘Serial rapist’ could face more charges

The case against a former PRASA security guard dubbed the Daveyton/Thembisa serial rapist, was again postponed in the Benoni Regional Court on September 29.

The 38-year-old accused was arrested on January 22 in Mayfield, Daveyton, following joint investigations by the SAPS Benoni and Thembisa Family Violence and Child Protection and Sexual Offences units (FCS).

He was allegedly active in the area from 2018 until his arrest and is accused of raping 36 women, the youngest being 14.

He allegedly targeted women on their way home or waiting next to the road for a taxi.

“He would stop next to them and force them into his vehicle at gunpoint. He would then drive to a desolate area where he would rape them,” explained Lumka Mahanjana, the NPA regional spokesperson.

During his first appearance in January in the Daveyton Magistrate’s Court, the father of three was charged with six counts of rape.

Additional charges were since brought against him.

These include 44 counts of rape, 43 of kidnapping, and 41 of pointing a firearm, as well as 17 additional charges, including fraud, obstruction of justice, forcing someone to witness a sexual act, contravention of the Police Act and contravention of the Firearms Control Act.

His bail application was denied on June 20.

At the time, Magistrate Vinnie Gobind said the accused’s application did not present extraordinary circumstances warranting the granting of bail.

He said that given the gravity of the charges against the accused and the evidence presented by the state, he posed a flight risk.

The accused’s employment contract was terminated after his arrest, a decision he claimed he would contest at the CCMA.

A postponement was requested at his recent appearance to add possible additional charges.

The suspect will appear again on January 22, a year since his arrest.

He has not yet been asked to plead.

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