Times Of Swaziland: COPS HUNT ALLEGED SERIAL RAPIST IN MATSAPHA

COPS HUNT ALLEGED SERIAL RAPIST IN MATSAPHA
================================================================================
Stanley Khumalo on 03/01/2024 08:33:00


MANZINI – Police are on a manhunt for an alleged serial rapist around
Matsapha.
It has been gathered that five women have been reportedly raped in their houses
in locations around Matsapha, through a similar modus operandi. The women,
according to sources, were sexually abused around Logoba, where the suspect
reportedly broke into their houses and forced himself on them. The sources
claimed that at instances, the suspect pretended to be seeking assistance in
establishing where a particular person resided and upon the female opening the
door, he forced himself into the house and raped her.
Claimed
Sources alleged that the rape incidents had caused fear among the residents of
Matsapha. They claimed that the rapist on Saturday at Logoba engaged in his
squalid act and raped another woman. It was claimed that the suspect took
advantage of the congested surroundings in the locations within Matsapha as
there were many one-room flats, which made it easier for him to flee the scene
thereafter. Sources purported that the rape cases with this modus operandi
exceeded 30 in a span of at least five months and they were convinced that there
could be a serial rapist in Matsapha.
They claimed that their suspicions of the serial rapist were based on the fact
that even after some people accused of rape were arrested, the rapes continued.
However, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior
Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that there were five cases reported
to the police. Vilakati said police were investigating the reports and requested
members of the public who may have information about the suspect and or those
who could have fallen prey to the alleged rapist and not reported their cases
yet to contact them. She said they could report the cases to the nearest police
station and or call the police toll-free numbers – 999 or 9999. It is worth
noting that the police’s last annual report stated that 697 women were raped
in 2022.
On the other hand, the Director of Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA),
Nonhlanhla Dlamini, said the survivors could visit their facilities to get
counselling and support following the ordeal they had experienced. Dlamini said,
at the time, she was not certain if the cases had been reported to their offices
as it had been the festive season holidays. However, she said despite the
holidays, two of their centres located in Manzini and Mbabane were operating.
Arrested
The rape cases reported in Matsapha come against the backdrop of a man dubbed
the Facebook rapist being arrested last week after he reportedly used fake
accounts on Facebook to lure women who were looking for jobs. He purportedly
promised them jobs and when they reached his location, the story changed and he
would ask them to sleep with him in exchange for money, his favourite amount was
said to be E2 500. It is worth noting that in 2015, a serial rapist from
Matsapha, who raped 11 women, was sentenced to 208 years imprisonment.