LIMPOPO police have arrested a 24-year-old Zimbabwean national believed to be responsible for sexually assaulting 21 elderly women over the past four years.
Lieutenant Mohale Ramatseba said a police task team has been on the man's trail for some time after it received a tip-off from Chavani and Tshitale villagers about a housebreaking suspect who was terrorising them.
"In June the task team went to a house at Tshitale, where the suspect was found. He attempted to escape but they cornered him. During a search detectives found items from the victims' homes such as cellphones, radios, televisions as well as ladies' bags taken during the man's house robbery spree," he said.
Ramatseba said investigations linked the man to 21 sexual assaults. He said the suspect's modus operandi included stalking his victims when they went out to the fields or to collect fire wood.
"He would rob and then rape them. His youngest victim was a 15-year-old girl, but he mostly raped pensioners, some as old as 82 . He has been linked to the crimes through DNA tests.
He also faces charges of common robbery, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, theft from properties and housebreakings committed in the Tshitale and Waterval areas."
Acting provincial police commissioner Major-General Berning Ntlemeza praised the team for its hard work leading to the man's arrest.
"Their perseverance in bringing this man to book for his barbaric acts on innocent women will not go unnoticed. "
Ntlemeza said their efforts emphasised the SAPS's determination to address crime, particularly against women and children.
The man was expected to appear in court soon.
Relief as suspected rapist is arrested
LIMPOPO police have arrested a 24-year-old Zimbabwean national believed to be responsible for sexually assaulting 21 elderly women over the past four years.
Lieutenant Mohale Ramatseba said a police task team has been on the man's trail for some time after it received a tip-off from Chavani and Tshitale villagers about a housebreaking suspect who was terrorising them.
"In June the task team went to a house at Tshitale, where the suspect was found. He attempted to escape but they cornered him. During a search detectives found items from the victims' homes such as cellphones, radios, televisions as well as ladies' bags taken during the man's house robbery spree," he said.
Ramatseba said investigations linked the man to 21 sexual assaults. He said the suspect's modus operandi included stalking his victims when they went out to the fields or to collect fire wood.
"He would rob and then rape them. His youngest victim was a 15-year-old girl, but he mostly raped pensioners, some as old as 82 . He has been linked to the crimes through DNA tests.
He also faces charges of common robbery, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, theft from properties and housebreakings committed in the Tshitale and Waterval areas."
Acting provincial police commissioner Major-General Berning Ntlemeza praised the team for its hard work leading to the man's arrest.
"Their perseverance in bringing this man to book for his barbaric acts on innocent women will not go unnoticed. "
Ntlemeza said their efforts emphasised the SAPS's determination to address crime, particularly against women and children.
The man was expected to appear in court soon.
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