A serial rapist who terrorised women in Mamelodi for five years apologised on Wednesday to his victims.
Simone Antonio Sithole, 27, was convicted on 45 charges after admitting breaking into houses in Mamelodi and Nelmapius between 2009 and 2013 and raping women and young girls.
The charges include 21 of rape, one of sexual assault, numerous of robbery with aggravating circumstances, pointing a firearm and the illegal possession of a firearm.
His youngest victim was 11 years old and two other victims were 16 when he raped them.
Sentencing is expected on Thursday.
Sithole handed in a lengthy statement in which he admitted all elements of the charges against him.
He decided to plead guilty because he had no legal defence against the charges.
Sithole said he regretted and was sorry for what he did and apologised to the victims and others who were adversely affected by his illegal conduct.
None of Sithole's victims were present in court on Wednesday.
Sithole at first denied that he had raped and robbed the 11-year-old girl, claiming he was already in jail at the time.
After being confronted with his arrest record, he later confessed that he had in February 2013 broken into the house in Mamelodi East where the girl and her family were asleep.
The girl woke up in the early hours of the morning from a blow to her head and found Sithole kneeling next to her bed and pointing a firearm at her.
He also threatened her with a knife, telling her not to make a noise, before tying her up and raping her, leaving her with a towel over her face.
The family later discovered that a cellphone was missing from the house.
Most of Sithole's victims were asleep when he broke into their homes.
He confessed to threatening his victims with a firearm, knife, axe, screwdriver, and garden shears, as well as tying some of them up before raping them.
One victim was raped in front of her two children and another woman was breastfeeding her baby when she saw Sithole, armed with an axe, in the house.
He tied her up and searched her room before raping her.
Sithole said in his statement he had intended to rape his victims when he broke into their homes.
The victims were robbed of cellphones, cash, handbags, jewellery and clothing. One victim was robbed of a baby bag filled with clothes.
Sithole admitted he had for several years been in possession of an unlicensed firearm, of which the serial number was removed.
His wife found the pistol in a pot while cleaning the house after his arrest and handed it to the police.
Serial rapist apologises
A serial rapist who terrorised women in Mamelodi for five years apologised on Wednesday to his victims.
Simone Antonio Sithole, 27, was convicted on 45 charges after admitting breaking into houses in Mamelodi and Nelmapius between 2009 and 2013 and raping women and young girls.
The charges include 21 of rape, one of sexual assault, numerous of robbery with aggravating circumstances, pointing a firearm and the illegal possession of a firearm.
His youngest victim was 11 years old and two other victims were 16 when he raped them.
Sentencing is expected on Thursday.
Sithole handed in a lengthy statement in which he admitted all elements of the charges against him.
He decided to plead guilty because he had no legal defence against the charges.
Sithole said he regretted and was sorry for what he did and apologised to the victims and others who were adversely affected by his illegal conduct.
None of Sithole's victims were present in court on Wednesday.
Sithole at first denied that he had raped and robbed the 11-year-old girl, claiming he was already in jail at the time.
After being confronted with his arrest record, he later confessed that he had in February 2013 broken into the house in Mamelodi East where the girl and her family were asleep.
The girl woke up in the early hours of the morning from a blow to her head and found Sithole kneeling next to her bed and pointing a firearm at her.
He also threatened her with a knife, telling her not to make a noise, before tying her up and raping her, leaving her with a towel over her face.
The family later discovered that a cellphone was missing from the house.
Most of Sithole's victims were asleep when he broke into their homes.
He confessed to threatening his victims with a firearm, knife, axe, screwdriver, and garden shears, as well as tying some of them up before raping them.
One victim was raped in front of her two children and another woman was breastfeeding her baby when she saw Sithole, armed with an axe, in the house.
He tied her up and searched her room before raping her.
Sithole said in his statement he had intended to rape his victims when he broke into their homes.
The victims were robbed of cellphones, cash, handbags, jewellery and clothing. One victim was robbed of a baby bag filled with clothes.
Sithole admitted he had for several years been in possession of an unlicensed firearm, of which the serial number was removed.
His wife found the pistol in a pot while cleaning the house after his arrest and handed it to the police.
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