The long-awaited trial of the alleged Ekurhuleni serial rapist, which was scheduled to start on May 31, was again postponed for consultation.
The accused briefly appeared in the high court sitting in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court where his court case was postponed to June 13.
During the court proceedings, Judge Anneke van Wyk granted the media’s application to take pictures of the suspect at his next court appearance. She ruled that photographs may not be of his face or side but from the back.
She further told the court that the court case will be heard in camera whenever a rape victim is testifying – therefore, no member of the public will be allowed inside the court.
The alleged serial rapist faces about 203 charges of rape, kidnapping and theft committed in and around Ekurhuleni from 2012 to March 2021.
He has allegedly been terrorising women and children in Benoni and other areas. Some of the rape cases that have been opened against him date back to 2012.
On February 28, the state opposed his bail during a formal bail application hearing in the Daveyton Magistrate’s Court because he may pose a threat to society if released.
State prosecutor Refiloe Neluonde said it was not in the best interest of justice to release the accused on bail because the state has a strong case against him.
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