Police hunt for Gauteng serial rapist

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Pretoria - Police are on the hunt for a serial rapist believed to be responsible for the rapes of at least 12 women in Gauteng.

Colonel G,rard Labuschagne of the SAPS' Investigative Psychology Unit said police were seeking the public's help in identifying the man believed to be responsible for the rapes in the Hillbrow and Johannesburg Central areas.

However, he warned that the man is believed to be armed and should not be approached by members of the public. They should rather contact the police.

The suspect has been described as neatly dressed, fluent in both English and Zulu and in his mid 20s to early 30s.

Outlining the serial rapist's modus operandi, Labuschagne said the suspect would seek out about two of three women and ask them to celebrate his birthday, at his expense, at a bar or restaurant.

Later in the evening, he would ask one of the women to accompany him while he fetched a sister or friend and took them in a metered taxi to a hotel, where he claimed his sister, friend or luggage was waiting. Once inside the room the man raped his victims.

According to Labuschagne, the man is targeting black females between the ages of 19 and 21, in and around the Johannesburg area, and more recently Pretoria.

The suspect calls himself S'bu, Sibusiso, Zamani or Vusi. He has a large scar, believed to be from a medical operation, on his stomach and an old scar on his arm.

Anyone who has any information regarding this man has been asked to contact Captain J Buthelezi on 076 837 4756 or Colonel Gerard Labuschagne on 082 770 5195.