DURBAN - Twenty thousand rand has been put up as a reward after two rapes and an attempted rape on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in a month.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said Southport SAPS were investigating charges of rape and house robbery.
“The complainant alleged that upon her return home from work at about 4:45pm on February 8, 2022, she found an unknown man inside her house in Sea Park, armed with a knife and firearm. He then tied up the 45-year-old woman and raped her. After he took a cellphone, laptop and kettle from the house and fled.”
The first rape was on January 13 this year in Sea Park.
On Monday, private investigator Brad Nathanson said the Sea Park rapist had struck again on Sunday night at 7.30pm.
“He attacked a woman while she was walking home along the main road from Madlala. He dragged her into a bush but she managed to fight him off and escape unharmed. This victim identifies her attacker as the man in the Identikit,” Nathanson said.
He said the second rape was on February 8 at 5pm.
“I am learning from my investigation that this suspect is not only responsible for the rape of these two women, but of likely many others who are of his own race. It is only now that a once unknown suspect in these previous cases of rape has been identified and connected, because of the last two rapes.
“I can say for sure, after interviewing the last two victims myself, that this suspect is indeed a serial rapist,” Nathanson said.
“Interviewing the victim, I have never felt so helpless or so useless. I hated the fact that another woman had been raped since I first began this investigation.
“To this end I need to motivate you, everyone one of you, in the Sea Park and surrounding areas to set up patrols, make sure that everybody knows that there is a R20 000 reward on offer and has a copy of this Identikit. And while I am establishing his identity, you need to make sure that there are no more victims. If you should catch him in the process, this will be a bonus.”
About the suspect:
- He is around 5’8, stocky build
- He is armed. He may have more than one weapon. One may be a replica but treat it as real.
- He takes food when he leaves, food to last.
- He took a kettle on February 8. He must have electricity.
- He smells clean. He must have access to a shower/soap.
- His clothes are clean.
- His head is clean-shaven but he likes to wear a beanie.
- He is athletic. He runs like a gazelle.
- Barefoot.
“Immediately across a single lane road from the last victim, the suspect fashioned this cave out of the bush. From this position, he looked directly into the home of the victim. From that which we found in the cave, I deduce that he spent days there but not nights. In the garden of the first victim, we discovered a place where I also believe that the suspect spent his days watching the victim,” Nathanson said.
“On the day of February 8, the suspect was likely in his cave when the victim arrived home. He would have walked in behind her as the driveway gate was closing. The victim walked into her home with her arms full and did not close her door. When she turned to do this, the suspect was already inside her home and was standing behind her.”
He said the suspect was bold, armed and struck mostly during daylight. He was not afraid to shoot and was also carrying a long-bladed kitchen knife with a yellow handle. He may have a pocket full of paracord. He arrived with paracord to tie up his last victim. He likes to wear 3/4 length pants and arrives without shoes.
Nathanson warned residents to watch that the driveway gate closes, especially when it is not your gate. Clear back bushes and get your municipality to do the same or do it yourself. Do not allow apathy to set in because of poor service delivery. Safety first. Always.
Private security company Lazer 911 Security spokesperson Basil Lanka said the company and residents were on high alert following reports of a suspected serial rapist.
“We at Lazer 911 have motivated our staff with incentives in order to make a quick arrest. We are putting extra effort into catching this serial rapist. We have put out extra vehicles and staff to patrol the area until the suspect is caught. We have unmarked vehicles and staff out on routine patrols as well,” Lanka said.
“Lazer 911 will be flying a drone in all areas where the serial rapist was allegedly last active or seen – Sea Park, Pumula Terrace, Acadia Street and other areas. Checking all coastal bush and caves. We will also be covering other areas depending on our intelligence information received.”
He encouraged residents not to panic or be alarmed when they see the drone in their area. It would continue daily at different times until the suspect is arrested.
Those with concerns can call the Lazer 911 control room on 039 682 0229 or Lazer emergency on 082 8222 911.
Lanka said Sunday night’s incident had taken place in Louisiana and was reported to Port Shepstone SAPS.
He also said those who want to assist the family and contribute the reward can email their name and the amount they would like to pledge to Jenny Parkes on [email protected].
“Once this bugger is caught and convicted the money can be forwarded to the family,” Lanka said.
Earlier this month, Nathanson said he did not think that the man accused of raping and robbing an elderly woman on the South Coast had been arrested.
On January 24, Nathanson revealed that an elderly woman had been raped and robbed at her home.
Nathanson said that on January 13, at around 1pm, the woman was at the back door of her home in Sea Park, Port Shepstone, when she was pushed back inside her kitchen by a suspect who was armed with a handgun.
The suspect pointed the gun at the victim and pulled the trigger more than once but they were “dry fires”.
“The suspect tied up the victim and her mother. He was aggressive from the start and he bullied the two women into submission.”
“He ransacked the house and would return to torment the victim during his two-hour search through the house for valuables. He screamed only profanities at the victims.”
“Before he left the suspect decided, likely because there is no fitting consequence in this country for crimes like these, to rape the 67-year-old victim,” Nathanson said.
Nathanson said he did not think the man had been arrested and thought the man arrested must have been arrested for other crimes.
“I don’t think it’s him,” Nathanson said about the man who had been arrested.
“It would shock me to my core if he had been arrested.”
Following the rumoured arrest, Nathanson urged people not to drop their guard.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said Southport SAPS detectives were investigating a case of house robbery and rape.
Daily News