Trial of alleged serial rapist moves to Bethal
Themba Mpanza will be in court on September 21.
The Bethal Regional Court on August 21 postponed the trial of alleged serial rapist Themba Mpanza to September 21.
Mpanza faces six counts of rape, six counts of kidnapping and one count of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in connection with a series of alleged incidents involving young women.
The State alleges that some of the victims were hitchhiking or had stopped to ask Mpanza for directions.
According to the State prosecutor, Mpanza allegedly picked up three victims who were hitchhiking. In another incident, he allegedly lured a girl from Leandra by pretending that he needed directions.
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He allegedly then deviated from the route, driving out of Leandra past Eendracht along the R29, before allegedly raping her in a nearby field.
Mpanza was a teacher in eMbalenhle at the time of his arrest in 2022. He was denied bail and has remained in custody since his arrest.
Following the denial of his bail application, Mpanza dismissed his attorney and elected to represent himself in the proceedings.
The trial was initially set down at the Evander Regional Court but has since been transferred to the Bethal Regional Court, where proceedings are now being heard.
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