Carlo Petersen
POLICE are formulating more charges against Gugulethu resident Kahangayi Sidume, who was charged with rape and robbery with aggravated circumstances when he appeared in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Sidume, 30, was arrested at his home last Wednesday and on Thursday police said they questioned him “for multiple murder and rape cases perpetrated in the Peninsula during recent months”.
Police said these cases included the murders of six women, whose bodies were found in bushes between Century City train station and Acacia Park train station.
Yesterday, people in a packed courtroom waited in anticipation while a team of Public Order Policing officers kept a watchful eye over proceedings. The slender Sidume ambled up from the holding cells dressed in blue jeans and a white shirt with black speckles.
He looked self-assured and spoke softly as magistrate Sean Lea asked what his mother tongue was and whether he wanted an attorney, legal aid or if he would represent himself.
Sidume said he spoke Xhosa and wanted legal aid.
State prosecutor Chantal Adams said Sidume’s profile was still outstanding from the docket and asked that the matter be postponed for police to conduct an identity parade.
Sidume was asked if he wanted to apply for bail. He replied that he wanted the identity parade first. The case was postponed to Monday.
Police spokesman Andre Traut said more charges would be added to Sidume’s docket. A woman Sidume allegedly raped and robbed later identified him, said Traut.