Limpopo's most wanted serial rapist, who escaped from lawful custody in 2018, has been re-arrested. Lesley Chuenyane escaped when he was being transported to Witbank prison, five years ago. The 29- year-old Chuenyane was re-arrested on 14 April by members of the Nebo SAPS Tracking Team in Jane Furse, Limpopo. 

A SERIAL RAPIST  

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said Chuenyane was first arrested in 2018 after he was linked to four counts of rape committed around the Nebo policing area. He said the suspect was positively linked with the cases through forensic evidence and his victims were between the ages of 20 and 30. "On the day of the escape, a group of awaiting trial prisoners allegedly cut through the burglar window of a police van after it stopped at Laersdrift policing area in Mpumalanga province. The other suspects were re-arrested shortly after the incident with assistance of the local farmers, but Chuenyane managed to escape and has been on the run since," Ledwaba said. He added that the police believed that Chuenyane went on and committed serious crimes around the Nebo policing area from 2018, which include robberies and hijacking.  

 
TARGETING OFFICERS 

He was also positively linked to the robbery that took place at Nebo Traffic Department where two security guards were allegedly robbed of their service firearms. One of the firearms was recovered at the suspect's homestead in Nebo after police were tipped off about its existence. "The suspect is alleged to have accosted two other security officers at Phokwane Clinic and robbed them of their belongings including cell phones." Ledwaba said. Chuenyane was also linked to an incident in which a traffic officer was hijacked of his private motor vehicle at gunpoint. The stolen motor vehicle was later recovered after he abandoned it when he was cornered by the police. "The suspect also further robbed a female victim of her belongings at gunpoint. The woman is his former classmate. The suspect's reign of terror ended when the members of this task team pounced on him at a rented room in Jane Furse on Friday 14,"s aid Ledwaba.  

 
CHARGES   

The suspect is facing over 10 charges ranging from rape, carjacking and robbery. He appeared at the Nebo Magistrate's Court on Monday on one count of robbery. He was remanded in custody until 05 May 2023. However, he will still appear in the same court on other charges. Chuenyane will also appear in Witbank Magistrates Court on a charge of escaping from lawful custody. Limpopo Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi applauded the task team that effected the re-arrest.