RAPE – A 33-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday after forensic tests linked him to the rape of 23 women, Western Cape police said.
“The crimes were committed over an extended period in Delft and in Khayelitsha. The suspect was arrested today in the Epping Industrial area, after the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences provincial task team had conducted extensive investigations over a period of five years,” said police spokeswoman Noloyiso Rwexana.
“The modus operandi that the suspect would follow is to approach his victims and threaten them. He would then rob them of jewellery and money.”
Rwexana said seven of the victims, aged between 18 and 28 years, had been traced by detectives so far.
The 33-year-old man will appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
She revealed that two men who had previously been questioned by police in connection with the attacks after community member claimed they were involved had become the victims of mob justice killings after police released them.
“It is tragic that the community took the law in their own hands and killed them, as well as two more men who were wrongfully accused of having committed rape in the area,” said Rwexana.
“It is now proven that all four these deceased were not involved in the crimes as alleged by the community.”
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