Evander Regional Court convicts serial rapist

The Evander Regional Court has found Christopher Seopa from eMbalenhle guilty on multiple charges of rape, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm, and escaping from lawful custody. Seopa’s conviction was handed down on July 22.

The magistrate postponed the case until September 4 for a pre-sentencing report. Throughout the trial, Seopa chose to represent himself and remained silent, offering no defence or cross-examination of witnesses.

Seopa, branded a serial rapist, targeted female hitchhikers, offering them lifts in a red double-cab bakkie before driving to remote locations and raping them at gunpoint.

In one incident, a woman hitchhiking home from work in Evander accepted a lift to eMbalenhle. Seopa turned onto Adullam Road and claimed he needed to stop in Bracken. Instead, he continued past the area and drove to an open field near Brendan Village, where he raped the woman at gunpoint.

ALSO CHECK: Sizanani Children’s home in Bronkhorstspruit gets cleaned up

In another similar incident, Seopa picked up a woman hitchhiking from the Mandela traffic circle to Ext 12 in eMbalenhle. He again diverted onto the same field via Bracken Road, where he raped her at gunpoint.

He faces four counts of rape, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, and one count of escaping from lawful custody in 2020. Initially, Seopa hired a private attorney.

After being denied bail, he turned to Legal Aid, but later dismissed his legal representative and opted to defend himself. Since the trial resumed, he has refused to engage with the court proceedings, remaining silent throughout.

The National Prosecuting Authority closed its case after presenting all witnesses and submitting its evidence. The magistrate granted Seopa an opportunity to present his defence on June 9, but he declined. The court granted him additional time until June 26, but he remained silent.

ALSO CHECK: Cullinan se Onverwacht-inwoners bederf met bekende se besoek