Westonaria police are still on the hunt for an apparent serial rapist that disguises himself as a homeless man while roaming the streets of Westonaria in a search of victims.
The man who is said to always be wearing a balaclava, operates in hotspots such as the N12 and Simunye Extension 5 where he attacks women both young and old traveling on foot.
Once he has rendered them helpless, he then drags them to a secluded area in the veld and rapes them.
According to Westonaria SAPS spokesperson Thembi Masango, the man is a danger to society and seems to be moving from one place to another without leaving a trace.
“We have been looking for this man for months now and we still cannot locate him.
“We are currently unsure as to how he identifies and targets his victims but we suspect that he follows them for some time and attacks when they least expect it,” says Masango
She adds that the suspect is unknown to any of his victims and is said to be always in disguise.
So far, the police have established that the man has raped at least five women in Westonaria and the surrounding areas.
These are however some cases that police suspect may have been committed by the same individual.
One of the latest reported cases is that of a 14-year-old girl who was raped on her way to school .
The incident occurred in a veld along the N12.
The rapist has previously also attacked victims at this specific location.
“It has come to our attention that the suspect follows the same modus operandi in all his attacks.
“Owing to this, we urge pedestrians to be alert at all times and not fall victim to such opportunists,” says Masango.
Masango has cautioned women and girls of all ages to not walk alone and to not take short cuts through open areas wherever possible.
“Do not place yourself in a situation where you are vulnerable. Always make sure you are around people.
“The moment you are alone in a secluded area, you become a potential victim.”
Anyone who might be able to assist the police in locating the suspect is urged to contact the Westonaria SAPS on 011 278 5395.
