LIMPOPO – A 32-year-old foreign national, linked to a spate of violent house robberies and rapes that terrorised women-headed households across the Mopani and Vhembe Districts between 2014 and 2020, is set to appear before the Giyani Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, September 22, following a lengthy investigation.

Modus operandi

The accused’s modus operandi involved breaking into the homes of women before attacking his victims with a sharp object, raping and robbing them. His victims ranged in age up to 74 years old.

He was positively linked to the crimes through forensic evidence.

Arrest and escape

The suspect was arrested in 2020 but escaped from lawful custody before being rearrested in 2022. He has since remained in custody and, on occasion, has used different names to evade identification.

66 charges enrolled

The case, investigated by the Provincial Investigation Unit, has resulted in the accused facing a total of 66 charges enrolled on the indictment for trial at the Thohoyandou High Court, set to resume on January 25, 2027.

A further seven cases, currently before a separate court, are being joined to the indictment and are expected to be consolidated soon.

Charges include: