An extensive investigative work by the Provincial Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit has managed to link a 30-year-old man through DNA to at least 14 rape cases between Tsolo and Msobomvu in Butterworth, and some of the cases dated back to 2016. On Wednesday, 13 September 2023 the suspect briefly appeared in the Tsolo Magistrate’s Court facing 30 charges ranging from rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances to kidnapping, and was remanded in custody until his next court date on 27 September 2023 for a bail application.
The accused was positively linked through DNA profiling in a series of rape cases, which occurred between Tsolo and Butterworth. It is alleged that the suspect was mostly targeting people who were walking at night either from work or student, who were on their way to their residences. Some of the cases were opened as early as 2016, and his victims’ ages were between 15 and 39. The accused is expected to be transferred to Butterworth, where he is to face similar charges on 20 September 2023.
Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene applauded the leading investigating officer, Warrant Officer Lulama Luhadi from FCS Serial and Electronic Crime Investigation (SECI) for the sterling work. “The suspect had been evasive for years, but the long arm of the law finally caught up with him and we hope that his arrest will bring solace to the victims”, added Lt Gen Mene
Content retrieved from: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=48388.
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