After receiving and operationalising information by a Provincial Task Team consisting of various units, including the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offices (FCS), Crime Intelligence, the Organised Crime Investigation Unit, the Crime Combating Unit, and the Tracking Unit, a 38-year-old male was arrested on Tuesday, 18 October 2022.

According to Police spokesperson, Adele Myburgh, the accused was arrested following an investigation that a serial rapist was active in the Potchefstroom, Ikageng and Klerksdorp areas. “More than 15 rape cases were reported between September 2021 and October 2022, with similar modus operandi. The suspect would lure his victims by advertising jobs on social media, using mostly FaceBook and targeting Zimbabwean ladies, who are fluent in Shona,” Myburgh said.

The Task Team obtained further information that led them to an Alabama address close to Klerksdorp, where they arrested the suspect. Various cellular phone sim cards and a knife were found in his possession. Further investigation took place at the suspect’s residence in Jouberton, Extension 11, where 11 bags containing lady’s clothes (suspected to belong to victims) were discovered and 8 cellular phones and more sim cards.

An incident reported in Potchefstroom on Thursday, 9 September 2021, involved a 27-year-old woman, who was allegedly scheduled to meet a woman who promised her a job via WhatsApp, arriving at a shopping centre adjacent to the taxi rank. The woman, who was from Johannesburg, met with a man as arranged by the lady she had been communicating with. They boarded a taxi and alighted at Extension 11, Ikageng. It is alleged that the man took the woman to an isolated and bushy location next to the N12 road, where she was raped, strangled, and robbed.

“The 38-year-old accused appeared before the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court yesterday on several charges of kidnapping, rape and robbery. He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance before the same court on Tuesday, 1 November 2022,” Myburgh said.

The police would like to request anyone with information that can assist in the investigation and identifying possible victims to contact the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Jacob Ranoko, of the Potchefstroom FCS Unit on cell: 069 ‪107 1676‬.