'I'll be back for your sister'
2003-10-02 07:32
Marida Fitzpatrick
Johannesburg - The notorious serial rapist of the East Rand threatened his third victim that if she told anyone her story he would come back for her younger sister.
After intensive investigations, he now has a name. Police have singled out a chief suspect in the case, but asked that the man not be identified in the media.
Although Director Faizel Kader, Gauteng police head of communications, did not want to confirm or deny on Wednesday that a chief suspect had been identified, an informed source said the man's name and identity number were sent to border posts and an intensive manhunt was under way.
The serial rapist abducted and raped at least three schoolgirls from Benoni over the past few months.
The mother of one of the victims is very worried after it came to light that her younger daughter might also be in danger.
The mother, who cannot be named in order to protect the victim, said the man promised the 14-year-old girl that he would come back for her younger sister.
She is 13 years old and also has blonde hair.
"He knows exactly where they live and it is clear that he has been watching them," the mother said.
Place of safety
The department of social services earlier placed the children in a place of safety because they were allegedly neglected by their parents.
The mother said the children should be placed either in her own care or taken to another place of safety.
"They cannot stay there. Their lives are in danger."
The 14-year-old girl was the rapist's third victim. She was abducted in Northmead, Benoni, on September 19 while she was on her way to school.
The man took her to a room on the Bredell smallholdings where he drugged and raped her.
Photos of mutilated, dead and bleeding girls were displayed on the walls of the room.
Before he dropped her in Northmead the next day, he told her he would kill her if she told anyone about the rape.
He apparently mentioned her sister, knew their circumstances and knew where they lived.
"He said it wouldn't be the last time."
No fixed address
The suspect doesn't seem to have a fixed address.
A police helicopter was deployed over the Bredell smallholdings on Wednesday and on Monday night members of the unit for family violence, child protection and sexual offences conducted a raid on the Witwatersrand as part of the manhunt.
Police searched at least two houses for clues, but nobody was arrested.
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