Thembisa and Dayveton ‘serial rapist’ trial to start in August
The trial is placed on the court roll for four weeks with 47 alleged victims expected to testify.
The trail against a former Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) security guard who faces 145 charges including rape and kidnapping has been set for August 26 to September 20.
The trail will commence 19 months after the man, dubbed the Dayveton/Thembisa serial rapist, was arrested.
The 38-year-old briefly appeared in the Benoni Regional Court again on May 7 where it was confirmed that an indictment had been issued and that the matter would be transferred to the Gauteng division of the High Court, sitting in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court.
His current charges include 44 counts of rape, 43 charges of kidnapping, 41 of pointing a firearm and 17 additional charges, including fraud, obstruction of justice, forcing someone to witness a sexual act, contravention of the South African Police Service Act 68 of 1995 and contravention of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.
It is believed he was active between 2018 until his eventual arrest on January 22, 2023.
The arrest came following joint investigations by the SAPS Benoni and Tembisa Family Violence and Child Protection and Sexual Offences units (FCS).
It is expected that 160 witnesses will be testifying, 47 of which are alleged victims.
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