KZN police arrest suspected serial rapist linked to 14 alleged rapes
A 36-year-old man has been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal in connection with 14 alleged rape cases dating back to 2010.
On Sunday, the KwaZulu-Natal police announced the arrest of a suspected serial rapist responsible for 14 alleged rape cases in Gauteng and Zululand District. The 36-year-old man was apprehended by officers of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit detectives in Ulundi. According to the provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the suspect began his pattern of rape in Mahlabathini in January 2010.
He was initially arrested but released on bail and subsequently absconded from court, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest. After his release, the suspect allegedly raped seven women in Pongola, four in Primrose and Germiston in Gauteng, and one each in Paulpietersburg and Magudu policing precincts, according to Netshiunda.
The police further disclosed the suspect's method of operation. He targeted women who were alone in their homes, breaking windows or doors to gain entry and threatening them with a knife. During his 2010 arrest, the police collected evidence and used DNA analysis to link him to all the cases. The suspect is set to appear in the Mahlabathini Magistrate's Court on Monday, September 21, 2026, for his failure to appear in court in 2010, following which he will be formally charged for the remaining 13 rape cases.
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