The trial against Sipho Lucas Phiri, dubbed the Daveyton/Thembisa serial rapist, resumed on November 10 during a Gauteng High Court sitting at the Benoni Magistrate’s.

This is after his defence, Advocate Marianne Mampuru, requested a postponement in the trial on July 14.

Phiri, a former Prasa security guard, is accused of 44 counts of rape, allegedly committed between 2018 and 2023, in Thembisa, Norkem Park, Daveyton and Putfontein.

Additional charges include 43 counts of kidnapping, 41 of pointing a firearm, and 17 more that include fraud, the obstruction of justice, compelling someone to witness a sexual act, and contraventions of the Police and Firearms Control Acts.

Three weeks have been set aside for Phiri’s testimony.

During his latest appearance, the Chief Albert Luthuli resident confirmed that he had worked as a uniformed security supervisor at two private security companies before joining Prasa in March 2021.

The accused stated that he worked at GWS Security from 2017 to December 2020, after which he worked at Vast Protection Services in January and February 2021.

He further confirmed that on the day of his arrest – January 22, 2023 – in Mayfield, Daveyton, a Taurus .38 special revolver with five live rounds of ammunition was found in his possession and booked in as evidence.

Answering questions posed by Mampuru, Phiri said that his firearm license application, in line with the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000, was granted in August 2019.

He said that he applied for a firearm licence for self-defence.

Since the start of the trial on August 28 last year, more than 60 witnesses, including complainants, an expert from the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory in Pretoria, and the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Kaizer Mbele of the Benoni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, have taken the stand.

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