A series of housebreakings‚ aggravated robberies‚ rapes and sexual assaults earned a man five life sentences and an additional 103 years imprisonment.

Nkosinathi Mthembu‚ 35‚ appeared in the high court in Durban on Friday for sentencing.

He preyed on women in the Tongaat area‚ about 40km north of Durban‚ from March 2014 to February 2015.

In one of the audacious attacks‚ he forced a woman whom he had just raped to prepare him a meal.

“He would break into their homes and rob them‚ using a knife. He would demand valuables as well as food from the complainants. The accused would then either rape or sexually assault some of the women. The accused stole valuables such as laptops‚ cellphones‚ a flat screen TV and food items‚” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Natasha Kara on Friday.

In four cases‚ the victims were domestic workers who were attacked at work.

“The accused was eventually arrested when a member of the community policing forum (CPF) in the area arrested him and handed him over to the authorities‚” Kara said.

State advocate Bonginkosi Mbokazi told the high court that the man was a serial rapist as the offences were planned and calculated.

“Mbokazi also mentioned that the accused had traumatised his victims. One complainant was raped and stabbed while she was carrying her child. Another had to prepare food for him after he had raped her‚” said Kara.

DNA results and fingerprints linking Mthembu to the rapes were presented to the court.

“Some of the complainants positively identified the accused during an identity parade‚” said Kara.

KwaZulu-Natal Director of Public Prosecutions Moipone Noko said the lengthy sentence would convey the necessary deterrent message.

“This sentence re-affirms the serious light in which we view crimes of this nature‚” she said.