Alleged serial attacker faces 30 charges of rape, 30 of kidnapping

THE investigation involving an alleged serial rapist has been completed, the Western Cape High Court heard yesterday.

The alleged rapist, 33, may not be identified until he pleads to the charges in court.

At yesterday’s proceedings he appeared in the Bellville District Court before magistrate Ronald Rickerts.

The State was represented by advocate Nokuzola Mbewana of the Western Cape Directorate for Public Prosecutions.

She told the court that the man now faced 30 rape charges (previously it was 23), 30 counts of kidnapping and 12 of aggravated armed robbery.

She said the high court indictment had not yet been finalised, but would be when the man makes his final preliminary appearance in the district court on December 8.

The indictment will be served on him at his December appearance, via his legal aid lawyer, Robyn Diedericks, she told the court.

The man’s appearance yesterday was his fourth since his arrest in May.

The man was arrested in the Epping Industrial area after the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences provincial task team had completed extensive investigations.

A police statement at the time said the man’s method was to threaten and rob his victims before raping them.

He was arrested after forensic tests linked him to the alleged rapes – at that stage, of 23 women.

The statement said the rapes were perpetrated over a period of five years. – ANA