The man known as the Tsakane graveyard serial rapist, Petetona Abel Lebele, was found guilty of four counts of rape and kidnapping by the Pretoria high court.

The 43-year-old told the court during his guilty plea today that he targeted his victims while they were on their way to school or home in Tsakane township in Ekhuruleni, Gauteng.

He detailed how he would grab and drag his victim to the graveyard where he would proceed to rape them.

Lebele targeted victims aged seven, 13, 16 and 32 over three years.

According to North Gauteng NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, one of Lebele’s victims was a seven-year-old minor.

State prosecutor advocate Lawrence Sivhidzho told the court that Lebele had two previous convictions of theft and robbery, which he had committed in 2015 and 2008 respectively.

Sivhidzho pleaded with the court to impose a harsher sentence as acts of violence against women and children were serious.

In terms of report and conviction rates, it is estimated that more than 40% of South African women will be raped in their lifetime and that only one in nine rapes are reported. It is also reported that 14% of perpetrators of rape are convicted.

Lebele’s matter was postponed to tomorrow for sentencing proceedings