LIMPOPO – A 34-year-old man, dubbed the ‘Facebook serial rapist’ by the police, has been arrested after he was sought for 14 cases of robbery and rape in the Tzaneen policing area. 

Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said the man committed these ‘despicable acts’ at Pharare, Mogophong, Mogoloboto and Burgersdorp villages in the Mopani district.

“He was wanted for multiple charges of rape and robberies that were committed between July and August 2020. The female victims, aged between 22 and 46, were reportedly lured by the suspect, who falsely advertised non-existent domestic and security employment opportunities on Facebook,” Mojapelo explained.

He added that some of the victims travelled from as far as KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. “The suspect patiently waited for the unsuspecting victims at taxi ranks and bus terminals. On their arrival, he would make some excuse and walk with the victims utilising a road that passes through the bush to arrive at their destination. He would then ultimately rape and rob them of their belongings and flee the scene,” Mojapelo said.

The cases were later transferred to the Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.

“The team worked tirelessly and managed to track down the suspect within a period of three months. He was arrested on November 6 at the Letaba Hospital after he was admitted with a gunshot wound he reportedly sustained in Burgersdorp village near a graveyard on November 2,” Mojapelo added.

He said the man will appear in the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court soon after his recovery at the hospital, and that investigations continue.