UPDATE: Balaclava rapist accused in court, expected to plead
ALEXANDRA – The 'balaclava rapists' will appear in the South Gauteng High Court today.
The two alleged serial rapists who conducted a reign of terror in Alexandra, preying on young school girls and their partners, are expected to appear in the South Gauteng High Court today (6 March).
The main accused will apparently plead guilty, while it is not known how his co-accused will plead.
Commonly known as the ‘balaclava rapists’ because of their modus operandi of wearing balaclava’s during their alleged rape spree which started in 2010, the main suspect is expected to plead guilty to around 76 charges of rape, robbery, theft and other incidents of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The name of accused number one, the main suspect in his 30s who allegedly initiated the crimes, is known to Alex News but his name will be withheld until he pleads guilty to the charges.
The accused was arrested after a cellphone service provider traced one of the stolen cellphones to him and he was linked to the spate of rapes of young girls whose ages ranged from 13 years to 38. He was further linked to the rapes through a DNA test.
The two accused allegedly accosted lovebirds in their strolls around the parks in the West Bank section of Alexandra including the old
cemetery. They then ordered the couples to have sex while they watched, after which they would take turns in raping the girls.
They would also rob the victims of their valuables, such as cellphones and other items. If the male victims refused to have sex with their companions, some of whom were just friends, they would be severely beaten and forced to commit the act.
Read:
Balaclava rapists off to the High Court
Balaclava rapists of 15-year-old girl still at large
Balaclava-clad men take turns to rape girl
