A 50-YEAR-OLD man, suspected of being a serial rapist in Isipingo, appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, February 9, after being arrested in Malukazi.

While initial evidence connected him to the rape of a 14-year-old girl and a 32-year-old woman, DNA evidence also connected him to a further 17 cases, going as far back as 2008. The suspect cannot be named to protect the identity of the victims.

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Provincial SAPS spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala, said the suspect targeted some of his victims in Durban CBD.

“Calmly and convincingly, he would ask them to accompany him to Isipingo, either because he said he did not know the area very well, or would offer some assistance to the victim who was in distress. They would board a taxi and once in Isipingo, he would tell them that he needed to fetch his car from a particular house. After walking for a distance, they would end up in a bushy area where he would strangle, rape and rob the victim of their valuables,” said Gwala.

As cases with a similar modus operandi were reported over the years, it became apparent that a serial rapist was in operation. The last reported case occurred on August 20, 2021.

“The victim in that incident alleged that she was also lured to Isipingo where she was strangled and subsequently lost consciousness. When she woke up she was naked. She sought help from the people on the street and reported the matter at the Isipingo Police Station. After medical examinations were conducted it was discovered that she had been raped,” said Gwala.

Detectives had a hard time trying to nail the perpetrator as there was no proper description of him from the victims and had also introduced himself by different names.

“Painstaking police investigation, coupled with calculated undercover work finally led detectives to a house in Malukazi where the suspect was found. With positive identifications from two of the victims, he was subsequently arrested,” said Gwala.

The suspect was remanded into custody while investigations continue.  

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