A suspect positively linked to 9 cases of rape was arrested by members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in Phalaborwa, Limpopo after he was identified through a similar modus operandi. He terrorised women around Namakgale, Matjentje, Makhushane and Lukelani between 2017 and 2021. 

HIDING BEHIND MENTAL ILLNESS  

Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the suspect was first arrested in 2012 after he raped a 23- year-old woman at Makhushane village who was walking alone at night. He raped her in the bushes at knife point. "The court then referred him to undergo mental assessment and was later released after the court ruled that he had mentally unfit to stand trial,' Ledwaba said. 

 MODUS OPERANDI 

The suspect (45) has been terrorising residents and raped female victims aged between 15 and 36. "He would prey on women walking during the night with their male companions, threaten them with a knife and then force them into the bushes before raping the women. The suspect committed another rape in 2019 and he was unknown until he was linked through DNA evidence and became a person of interest and was ultimately linked to the nine cases." Ledwaba added.

OUT OF LUCK  

 The suspect's luck ran out when police pounced on him at his workplace in Namakgale on Friday. Police investigations are underway to establish whether the suspect could be linked to more similar crimes. The Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Major General Jan Scheepers has welcomed the arrest of the suspect believed to be behind a string of rape cases. "I would also like to commend the concerted efforts of the members involved that resulted in the arrest of the suspect, which will bring down level of rape incidents in the affected areas and bring relief to the affected communities as well," said Major General Scheepers. The suspect will appear in the Namakgale Magistrate's Court on Monday 24 April 2023.