POLICE in GaRankuwa, north of Pretoria, have warned women in Tshwane to be on the lookout for a suspected serial rapist who has escaped from custody.

According to Warrant Officer Mokgosi Sekgwelea of the SAPS' GaRankuwa family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit, Isaac Dibetso faces nine charges of rape.

Police said the 41-year-old's modus operandi is to prowl around shopping centres and taxi ranks in Pretoria and surrounding areas such as Mabopane, Soshanguve, GaRankuwa and Hammanskraal.

He is alleged to promise young women jobs at GaRankuwa industrial sites before luring them into the bushes and then raping them at knife-point.

Sekgwelea said Dibetso used shoelaces to tie up his victims and covered their faces with their clothes after raping them.

He allegedly leaves them in the bushes after promising to bring them food.

He is also believed to stab the victims on the hands if they resist.

Sekgwelea said Dibetso started his reign of terror in May this year, but was arrested in July.

He escaped on September 5, shortly after appearing in the GaRankuwa Magistrate's Court for another case where he is facing two charges of robbery.

Anyone with information about Dibetso is asked to contact W/O Moses Molawa on 078-591-8898 or 012-725-0100.