GAUTENG – The Provincial Commissioner of police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has lauded Sergeant Mpikiti Ben Thaele of Vereeniging Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit for swiftly tracking down and re-arresting a convicted rapist who had escaped from lawful custody.

According to a preliminary report the accused is currently serving a sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment for a rape he committed in 2021. The convicted rapist was receiving treatment at a medical facility when he escaped from lawful custody on Thursday, 3 February 2022.

Sergeant Mpikiti Ben Thaele of Vereeniging FCS unit was informed of the escape and he immediately formed a task team with members of Leeuhof and Groenpunt Correctional Services to trace and arrest the escapee.

While out tracing the whereabouts of the escapee Sergeant Thaele received information on Friday night, 4 February 2022 that a woman had been allegedly raped at Henley on Klip train station in Meyerton. Sergeant Thaele interviewed the 33-year-old victim who was able to vividly describe her alleged perpetrator; fitting the description of the escapee. The victim was apparently on her way home after work when she was allegedly attacked and raped by the perpetrator.

Within hours of this rape incident, Sergeant Thaele arrested the escapee in Henley-on-Klip, Meyerton. The re-arrested escapee is linked to the rape incident that occurred earlier that night and further investigation in this regard is still underway.

Source: South African Police Service