Serial rapist 'ready to strike'
2003-09-29 08:12
Marida Fitzpatrick
Johannesburg - The end of the Gauteng school holidays could mean that another victim may end up in the clutches of the East Rand serial rapist soon.
The man kidnapped, raped and drugged a 14-year-old girl on Friday last week and his two previous victims were a 12-year-old and a 16-year-old.
Police issued their warning on Sunday after they had followed up innumerable clues without success.
Sergeant Deon Pieterse, of the unit for family violence, child protection and sexual misconduct, says the school holidays, which began Friday a week ago, could be one of the reasons why the serial killer has been quiet.
"It could also be that he has kidnapped and raped more young girls, but that the assaults haven't been reported."
Pieterse says he thinks the killer may be gearing up for his next victim as soon as the schools in Gauteng re-open on Wednesday.
"He grabbed the other girls near schools, either while they were on their way to school or when they were returning home."
Suspect linked to Benoni
Captain Anna-Marie Potgieter of the same unit says they are being inundated with information.
Pieterse warned people it was an offence to withhold information from police.
He says police are convinced the man lives in Benoni. "He must have family, friends, a girlfriend or colleagues in the city."
He says people should not be complacent and think that the serial killer has become scared off. "He is possibly just waiting for the right opportunity."
A suspect was seen at a Wimpy restaurant in Benoni on Wednesday and managed to escape from police after a wild chase on Friday morning.
He stopped next to his victims in his red Corsa bakkie and forced them into the vehicle if they refused to get in.
He took all three to an abandoned building at Bredell smallholdings where he assaulted them indecently, raped them and took them back to the place where he had forced them into his bakkie.
The main is 1.7m, slightly built and has short, dark blond hair. He has a scar above his left knee and often wears a cap and a sunglasses.
People with information can contact Pieterse at 083 303 1865.
- Beeld