A 29-year-old man has been remanded in custody today in connection with the rape of two young women aged between 15 and 22. The victims were allegedly raped by the same suspect in two separate occasions at Vezubuhle near Kwamhlanga on 21 and 26 June 2020 respectively.
The investigation has revealed that the suspect would lure his victims on social media platforms by sending friend requests and once they befriend him, he would then constantly chat with them for few days before inviting them to his place.
It surfaced that the suspect asked his first victim to accompany him to an event as a date. When she went to his place, he welcomed her politely and invited her to his room. As soon as she entered, he allegedly took out a firearm and instructed her to undress, assaulted her and then raped her. This matter was reported to the police who opened a case of rape.
The second victim suffered the same ordeal and police investigated both matters.
Through analysis, police concluded that they were dealing with a serial rapist using social media to prey on his victims. They then followed leads and pounced on the suspect at his place of residence.
Whilst concentrating on the rape investigation, police also cracked an unresolved case of murder which occurred in May 2020. On that day, a lifeless body of 28-year-old Nonhlanhla Happy Maseko was discovered dumped under the bridge on the R573 road at Vezubuhle near Kwamhlanga.
At the time when the body was discovered, the suspect was unknown. However, the investigation has now uncovered that the suspect on the murder of Maseko, is the same who allegedly raped the two victims.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma, has applauded the members for the sterling work done. “We are very happy with the good work done by the members who did not leave any stone unturned. This arrest shows that SAPS is very serious in dealing with the scourge of Gender-Based-Violence and our systems as government are ready to ensure that justice is served for scores of women who have been victimised by men,” said General Zuma.
The suspect has appeared before the Kwamhlanga Magistrates’ Court on 29 June 2020, and his cases were postponed to 13 July 2020, for formal bail application.
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