Burglar linked to 18 rape cases  

Polokwane – A 25-year old man, who is in court to answer to several charges of burglary, has also been linked to 18 cases of rape.

Through forensic investigations police established that the suspect, who appeared before the Giyani Magistrates’ Court on Monday 25 May, is implicated in the multiple cases of rape.

The suspect was arrested in February 2020 following a lengthy investigation which established he had been allegedly terrorising community members in and around Thohoyandou, Giyani, Makhado and Tzaneen from as far back as 2014. He allegedly raped women aged 19 to 90 years. His modus operandi included attacking and raping victims in the bushes. In January 2014, the suspect raped a 90-year old woman after allegedly knocking on her door and pretending to be the victim’s grandson.

“He will appear in court on 18 counts of rape. He will also appear before other magistrates' courts for burglary and house robbery cases,” police spokesperson brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo explained. The suspect was denied bail when he appeared before the Giyani Magistrates’ Court on seven charges of burglary.

Police are still investigating all the cases and the suspect will be expected back in court on Wednesday 1 July.

Acting provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo major general Jan Petrus Scheepers commended the investigative work by police members attached to the investigative psychology unit (IPU) and the serial and electronic crimes investigation (SECI) unit.