A psychosocial report from a clinical psychologist will form part of the evidence that will be presented by the defence lawyer of Ekurhuleni serial rapist Nkosinathi Phakathi in court on December 8 and 9.
ALSO READ: Ekurhuleni serial rapist trial postponed due to power failure
This was revealed in the Pretoria High Court sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on November 9 where Phakathi again kept his face down to prevent the media from taking pictures. He was wearing a mask.
Phakathi’s lawyer Advocate Lekau Kgokane told the packed courtroom that he would like to secure the services of an independent clinical psychologist to assist in compiling the report to be used as evidence for mitigating and aggravation of sentencing.
State prosecutor Advocate Salome Scheepers didn’t oppose the decision.
ALSO READ: Ekurhuleni serial rapist case postponed yet again
“The State is ready to proceed with sentencing, however, we understand that it is in the interest of justice that the court finds the bigger picture behind the matter,” said Scheepers.
During the proceedings, Judge Lesego Makolomakwe found Phakathi guilty of 148 charges relating to rape, kidnapping, theft and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He was found guilty of 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).
ALSO READ: Case against Ekurhuleni serial rapist postponed for bail hearing
Makolomakwe said the accused admitted the dates, times and ages of the complainants and the places mentioned in all the charges levelled against him.
“He admitted that he unlawfully had sexual intercourse with the complainants without their consent,” Makolomakwe said.
It was also revealed in court that Phakathi was a first-time offender as he has no prior convictions.
The trial against the accused began on October 25. He pleaded guilty to 148 crimes he committed against women and children between the ages of 10 and 44.
Phakathi lived in Chris Hani in Daveyton with his mother and has three children.
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charged with 203 charges, however, according to NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, 55 of the 203 charges were withdrawn by the State.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 has been linked to the cases through DNA and modus operandi.
Ensuring safety among Ekurhuleni
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 2021.
The 38-year-old uses crutches to support himself, as he only has one leg. The leg was amputated because of an injury he sustained when he was shot on the day of his arrest.
