Girls rescued from 2x3m hole

2007-03-05 08:19

Malani Venter

Hermanus - Police have arrested a man believed to be a notorious Cape serial rapist - rescuing two girls from a large underground burrow where at least the teenager was kept for 18 months.

A 15-year-old girl, who is believed to have been kidnapped 18 months ago by the serial rapist, was found along with a four-year-old girl, apparently the suspect's own child.

Both were found in a large burrow under the ground in the Hemel and Aarde Valley near Hermanus.

The man is believed to have been responsible for terrorising the region between Caledon and Hermanus for about three years.

Police want to charge him on 21 counts of among others rape, kidnapping, hijacking and burglary and escape.

He was arrested in the valley by a special police unit at about 05:30 on Sunday.

Disguised himself

Johannes Mowers, 31, was arrested, after police received a tip-off, by a special police task team consisting of the police crime intelligence unit investigation officers and trackers.

Director Jeremy Veary, who has searching for Mowers for the past two months, on Sunday said Mowers was one of the most ingenious people he had ever tracked.

The suspect managed to give police the slip by hiding in different places around Hermanus. He also walked over the surrounding mountains in order not to be recognised by residents.

Veary pointed out Mowers's most prominent hiding places to the media on Sunday.

An abandoned green and blue house in Moonlight Bay outside Hermanus was one of these hiding places. A worn mattress and candles were testimony of his presence.

From here Mowers apparently hiked to his two-man tent in Sandbaai. This tent was hidden in a bushy area and covered with branches.

According to Veary a suspect who escaped from a police van in December, obtained this tent for Mowers. The man was also arrested.

Mowers walked kilometres back and forth to reach the different shelters. He apparently also camouflaged his face with clay in order not to be recognised by residents.

He pointed out the large burrow to police on Sunday. The two girls had probably lived there for more than a year.

The shelter is near the farm Deja Vu along the R320 about seven kilometres outside Hermanus. The covered hole is situated several metres from a pear orchard.

Police found the girls in the burrow of about three by two metres in size. A three-quarter mattress, food, gas containers and a gas stove were also found.

According to Veary the girls were emotionally traumatised.

The 15-year-old girl from Caledon, who was allegedly kidnapped by Mowers from her home in November 2005, told Veary that the man (known to them as Colin) was free to move around, but they were never allowed to leave the burrow.

She said she was too afraid to escape.

The children apparently started crying when they saw the police.

He said they were not emaciated and bore no visible traces of assault.

They were put under the supervision of the anti-family violence and anti-child abuse unit.

The suspect was being held by police.

It was not known when and where he would appear in court.

- Die Burger