Share

Serial rapists start 'slowly', court hears

Pietermaritzburg - Serial rapists usually start "slowly", in one or two incidents, and if they escape detection and gain confidence they rape repeatedly and often brazenly.

This was according to police crime profiler and forensic psychologist Captain Elmarie Myburgh who was testifying in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday in the trial of alleged serial rapist Khumbulani Rankentsi, 20, of Pietermaritzburg.

Rankentsi faces 11 rape charges, four charges of kidnapping his victims, and two of robbing them between February 2011 and July 2013.

She said only two complained that he robbed them of cash and cellphones, which indicated that the primary motive was rape, not theft.

She believed that through her linkage analysis Rankentsi committed the offences.

Her reasons were the crimes he allegedly committed, the time and place, blitz attacks, violence, disrobing victims, vaginal rapes without condoms and speaking to his victims.

She said linkage analysis focused on the psychological behaviour of the offender during the crime, either gleaned by investigators or from victim and witness accounts.

This linkage analysis did not include physical evidence such as DNA, fingerprints, ballistic evidence or accused's admissions.

Sunday

Rankentsi's victims were black and aged from their late teens to early 60s.

They were attacked mainly on Sundays, in the early morning or at night.

The victims said their attacker wore either a balaclava or a hood over his head and his face was covered or hidden.

Most of the victims were walking on footpaths or roads when they were suddenly attacked blitz-style, grabbed round the neck or by an arm, and forced into bushes. Three victims had a companion, but the presence of the third party did not deter him as he either chased or attacked them.

He controlled his victims by threatening them with a firearm, and/or bushknife, and/or axe.

Some of the victims saw he had more than one weapon. He threatened to physically attack them if they screamed or did not co-operate. Some reported that he choked them.

Rankentsi spent time with most of the victims after the assault.

Myburgh said this was to extend his control over them.

Rankentsi has pleaded not guilty.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
42% - 388 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
58% - 537 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.43
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.2%
Platinum
910.50
+1.5%
Palladium
1,011.50
+1.0%
Gold
2,221.35
+1.2%
Silver
24.87
+0.9%
Brent-ruolie
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE