DNA breakthrough leads to arrest of suspected serial rapist in the North West after 12-year probe - IOL

A 38-year-old man has been arrested after DNA evidence allegedly linked him to multiple rape cases dating back to 2012.

Police in the North West have arrested a 38-year-old man who has allegedly been linked through DNA evidence to multiple rape cases dating back to 2012.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the suspect was arrested in Vryburg on Wednesday, September 23, following an intensive investigation involving several specialised units.

He appeared in the Atamelang Magistrates’ Court on Friday on charges relating to the cases and was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on October 5.

Police said the first alleged rape took place in 2012, when a 24-year-old woman reported that she was approached by an unknown man while walking home from a tavern in Kanana.

According to SAPS, the man allegedly dragged her to an open area in Vaalpark, where he assaulted and raped her.

In 2016, a 16-year-old girl reported that she and a friend encountered an unknown man outside a tavern.

Police said the man asked them to accompany him to an ATM. When it began raining, he allegedly forced his way into a house and raped the girl.

The suspect allegedly chased her friend away before taking the girl to another house, where police said he allegedly raped her again.

In another reported incident in 2022, a 20-year-old woman reported that she was at a tavern in Huhudi when she went outside to answer a call from her father.

According to police, an unknown man grabbed her cellphone and ran away. She followed him and, during the pursuit, encountered another unknown man who allegedly asked what she was doing outside in the dark.

Police said the man then allegedly took her to a graveside, where he raped her.

SAPS said the suspect has also been linked through the investigation to a 2016 rape case in Meadowlands.

North West Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Arthur Adams praised the multidisciplinary team involved in the investigation, including the Investigative Psychology Unit, the Mmabatho Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit and the Provincial Serial and Electronic Crime Investigation (SECI) Unit.

Adams said the DNA linkage highlighted the importance of specialised investigative capabilities and cooperation between police units.

“Cases involving sexual offences require thorough, victim-centred investigations,” Adams said.

“I commend the members involved for their commitment and professionalism in pursuing all leads, which resulted in identifying and arresting the suspect.”

The arrest comes amid heightened national concern over violence against women following the discovery of multiple women's bodies in Gauteng in recent months.

Police confirmed on Saturday that the body of another woman had been found at Mooifontein Cemetery in Tembisa, bringing to 10 the number of women's bodies discovered in Ekurhuleni over the past two months. Investigators have not established that the cases are connected, and the circumstances surrounding the latest death are still being investigated.