Judgement is expected to be handed down on November 8 in the case against Nkosinathi Phakathi (38), dubbed the Ekurhuleni serial rapist, following his guilty plea to 148 charges in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on November 1.
The trial against the accused began on October 25.
The charges he pleaded guilty to are 90 charges of rape, compelled rape (four), causing a child to witness a sexual act (three), kidnapping (43), theft (four), sexual assault (two), and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (two).
He was initially charged with 203 charges, however, according to NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, 55 of the 203 charges were withdrawn by the State.
Phakathi appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court again today (November 2). He used crutches to support himself, as he only has one leg.
The leg was amputated as the result of an injury he sustained when he was shot on the day of his arrest. His lawyer Advocate Letau Kgobane read his guilty plea statement.
During the entire court proceedings, Phakathi kept his face down to prevent the media from taking pictures and was wearing a mask.
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During the proceedings, the court heard that Phakathi would use a knife, firearm and his bare hands to subdue his victims.
His victims were between 10 and 44 years old.
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Phakathi has been linked to the cases through DNA and modus operandi. He pretended to install meter boxes or geysers or said he was a house inspector or a food distributor or someone looking for directions when approaching his victims.
He would allegedly rob and rape his victims while threatening to kill them if they reported the matter to the police.
He was arrested in March last year in Barcelona, Etwatwa, after police searched for him for years following a series of rape cases reported in various areas between 2012 and March 2021.
The 38-year-old lived in Chris Hani in Daveyton with his mother and has three children.
Also Read: Ekurhuleni serial rapist trial set to start in October
