DNA analysis links suspect to nearly 60 rape cases
A Gauteng man is expected to appear in court in connection with nearly 60 cases of rape in the Ekurhuleni Central District.
CAPE TOWN, April 29 (ANA) – A Gauteng man is expected to appear in the Daveyton Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after DNA successfully linked him to nearly 60 cases of rape in the Ekurhuleni Central District.
National commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) General Khehla John Sitole said the arrest of the suspect was made possible by a multidisciplinary task team comprising various components within the SAPS.
The team was led by the Gauteng Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) investigations detectives in conjunction with the national Investigative Psychology Services (IPS) and the national Forensic Science Laboratory’s (FSL) biology section and the Victim Identification Centre (VIC).
He said this team was established in April 2018 and included assistance from external role players.
Sitole said the team was assigned to investigate and arrest the suspect as he was believed to have been responsible for a spate of rapes in the area.
A thorough trace and tracking of his movements led to his arrest on March 17, 2021.
According to the national commissioner, a DNA report has linked the suspect, who is in police custody, to the rape cases.
“Following his arrest, a DNA report has linked the suspect in police custody to these rape cases which were reported as far back as 2012 in various policing precincts, including Batho, Crystal Park, Daveyton, Etwatwa and Putfontein police stations,” Sitole said.
Several victims have come forward with information for the investigating team since the suspect’s arrest.
He will be appearing in court in absentia as he was shot at the time of his arrest while trying to evade the police.
The suspect remains in hospital under heavy police guard.
The investigating team is analysing the suspect’s modus operandi, and the possibility of linking him to additional cases cannot be ruled out.
Sitole said the suspect could possibly be linked to a further 40 rape cases, which would bring the total number of cases against him to nearly 100.
Sitole commended the team for the arrest and successful connection of the suspect to the cases in question.
He said as SAPS management the investigation team had to be applauded for their unrelenting spirit to stop the suspect’s reign of terror against women.
“The team has indeed displayed and deployed their meticulous investigation and analysis skills.
“We hope that this case will bring hope to many victims whose suspects are still on the radar of our members.
“We also hope that the communities we serve will appreciate our endeavours in the fight against sexual offences related crimes and work together with our members to apprehend more of these callous criminals,” Sitole added.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher
