Zinhle Mapumulo

Zinhle Mapumulo

A serial rapist who carried out his crime in areas of Gauteng had a taste for the beautiful and invited only models into his lair.

Now police have nabbed the sly model-scout and are appealing to women who may have fallen victim to his crimes to come forward.

This follows the arrest of a 29-year-old man who allegedly raped a number of women after he promised them modelling jobs.

The man operated around Johannesburg and police believe possibly in other provinces.

The alleged rapist appeared in the Wynberg magistrate's court on Monday on charges of rape and robbery. The case was postponed to September 29.

Police spokesman Sefako Xaba said: "The man was arrested in Sandton on Friday.

"He was nabbed when a 23-year-old woman reported that he had raped her last month. The incident allegedly happened at a lodge in Rivonia."

Xaba said the victims had responded to an advertisement that the suspect had apparently placed on recruitment websites called Deviantart.com and epnetwork.co.za.

"He advertised modelling jobs on the two sites, to lure women aspiring to be models. When they responded, he would arrange to meet and interview them.

"After the interview, he would take them to a nearby lodge citing that he wanted them to do practical interviews that would determine if they qualified," said Xaba.

The man apparently raped the unsuspecting women at the lodge and robbed them of their valuables.