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Media Statement NELSPRUIT – The Police made a breakthrough and arrested an alleged serial rapist (39) who targeted minors. The suspect was nabbed in Witbank on allegations of raping young girls between the ages 7 and 13. According to a report, it is alleged that the incidents occurred between 2023 and 2024. Further allegations indicate that victims were terrorized by a vehicle which was driving around the area of Emalahleni and targeted young girls playing in the streets where the perpetrator would send them to a tuck shop in order to single them out of other children. The perpetrator would then followed the victim(s), grabbed them and forced them inside the said vehicle. At the end these victims would be sadly raped by their assailant. Several rape cases were opened to that regard and the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit was assigned to probe these reported cases. The team worked around the clock and after careful consideration through investigation, the astute members discovered that there was a serial rapist behind these incidents and there was a need to work with speed and put an end to this scourge. The team managed to connect the dots which led to the arres of this suspect during this weekend. Possibilities are that the suspect could have been involved in about 10 rape cases as well as kidnapping incidents that occurred around areas of Emalahleni, Vosman and Mhluzi. The man was arrested whilst attending court in Vosman for another separate case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) on a Gender-Based Violence incident. The suspect is expected to appear at Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 20 January 2025.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi has praised the Police for the success and for ensuring that the victims sleep peacefully with the knowledge that the suspect has been removed from the society. We are adamant that the team consisting of Detectives and Prosecutors will ensure that they present a watertight case against the suspect in order to have a conviction,” said the General.
Enquiries:
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