KWAZULU-NATAL. – The arrest of a 36-year-old man allegedly linked to the rape of 14 women is the second arrest of an alleged serial rapist within a short time in the province. The man was arrested on Sunday, 20 September in the Ncotshane area outside Nongoma by detectives from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit in Ulundi.
Col. Robert Netshiunda, police spokesperson, says the first case against the accused dates from January 2010 when a woman was allegedly raped in Mahlabathini. He was arrested at the time and released on bail, after which he allegedly absconded from court and a warrant was issued for his arrest. While he was on bail, he is linked by police to 13 other cases – seven in Pongola, four in Primrose and Germiston in Gauteng and one each in Paulpietersburg and Magudu.
The accused allegedly broke into homes where women were alone by forcing open a window or door, after which he threatened them with a knife. DNA analysis linked him to the cases according to police. He appeared in the Mahlabathini magistrate's court on Monday, 21 September on the charge that he failed to appear in court in 2010. He will be formally charged with the other 13 rapes.
This arrest follows shortly after the arrest of a 46-year-old alleged serial rapist in Cato Manor on 17 September. This man is linked to the rape of 16 women – 14 in Cato Manor and one each in Plessislaer and Taylor's Halt. According to police, between 2014 and 2025 he mostly followed women from taverns to their homes at night, where he allegedly raped them and robbed them of their possessions. In some cases he allegedly broke into homes and threatened women with a knife.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
