SAPS salute warrior’s work in apprehending serial rapists
The award-winning detective is attached to the serial and electronic crime investigations unit. Through a campaign to highlight 16 Days of Activism of no violence against women and children, the men in blue are acknowledging their hard workers.
A detective in the SAPS Gauteng’s serial and electronic crime investigations (SECI) unit has been acknowledged as a “game changer” by his employer.
Sergeant Molwantoa Rapakgadi has assisted in ensuring that numerous rapists and recent cop killers serve time in jail.
The police service in observing the annual 16 Days of Activism of no violence against women and children has undertaken to further highlight the work of its men and women in blue.
Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the police officers honoured during the period, were not only “game changers” in their respective fields, they went beyond to protect women and children in South Africa.
She said Rapakgadi was one of the many well-seasoned detectives attached to the SAPS Gauteng’s serial and electronic crime investigations (Seci) unit.
Van Wyk said the Seci was a specialised unit within the provincial family violence, child protection and sexual offences (FCS) that investigated serial rapists and offenders involved in child pornography.
“Rapakgadi has secured 57 life term sentences and an additional 3 074 years in prison for 17 serial rapists. He is certainly living up to his first name Molwantoa, which loosely translated from Sepedi means “warrior”.
In 2020 he was awarded a certificate of commendation by the National Commissioner of SAPS. It was for successfully linking six accused – dubbed the Six Men Syndicate– to a series of crimes they committed around the north of Gauteng, Klipgat in the North West and Modimolle, Limpopo between 2010 and 2018.
Rapakgadi’s meticulous skills in detective work and the application of forensic techniques resulted in Blessing Mabeshu, Thomas Ndlovu, Kenneth Maphosa, Talent Nkala, Bongani Masuku and Prince Ngwenya recently being found guilty on multiple counts that include among others; rape, murder, attempted murder and house robbery.
The six were collectively sentenced to 40 life terms and 1 793 years’ imprisonment.
During their reign of terror, the six would pounce on their victims during a house robbery where they would proceed to rape, assault and rob their victims.
The six men were also linked to the murder of a police officer in Soshanguve and sentenced accordingly.
Rapakgadi said he took pride in his work.
“I hardly take leave or book off sick.
“Being a detective is my calling and it gives me great pleasure to solve complex cases. Most of my suspects are unknown at first, but through various investigative techniques I can identify, trace and arrest these serial rapists,” said Rapakgadi.
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