One victim of the ‘Ekurhuleni Serial Rapist’, Nkosinathi Phakathi, who was violated in front of her friend eight years ago, says she continues to live with fear, shame and frequent panic attacks because of her traumatic ordeal.
In a victim impact statement, read out in the Pretoria High Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on September 26, the victim shared how Phakathi’s actions left her with emotional and psychological scars.
On the day of the incident, the victim, who is now 22 years old and was 15 at the time of the rape, she and her friend were on their way to a neighbour’s house. Phakathi raped both of them.
She said she regrets taking the route they chose that day and is sorry he also raped her friend.
The young woman described when Phakathi was sexually violating her, saying she felt numb and confused. She only reacted by crying when she got home and reported what had happened.
“I always wonder why the accused did what he did,” the victim said.
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Her statement formed part of the seven victim impact statements presented to the court during the second day of Phakathi’s sentencing proceedings.
DNA
The court also heard the testimony of the investigating officer, John Mokoena, from the Gauteng Provincial Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit and under the Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations Unit.
Mokoena said they linked Phakathi to the crimes through DNA samples following rape cases reported at various police stations in Ekurhuleni.
He stated by August 2017 they had 40 dockets and by 2020 they had 70 dockets opened against Phakathi, who was unknown at the time.
Mokoena added four SAPS task teams were appointed to assist in tracing Phakathi.
The team consisted of a criminologist, clinical psychologist, detectives from investigative support, crime intelligence, private security, the Hawks, the SAPS dog unit and SANDF members.
He was arrested in March 2021 in Barcelona, Etwatwa, after police had searched for him for years, following rape cases reported in various areas between 2012 and March 2021.
Phakathi was found guilty in November last year of 90 charges of rape, four compelled rape, three of causing a child to witness a sexual act, 43 kidnapping, four theft, two sexual assault and two charges of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Phakathi would use a knife, firearm and his bare hands to subdue his victims.
His youngest victim was nine and the oldest was 44.
The 39-year-old Phakathi lived in Chris Hani, Daveyton, with his mother and has three children.
The sentencing proceedings will continue on September 30.
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