Rustenburg, North West - A 31-year-old man was arrested on Friday for allegedly raping young women seeking employment around Rustenburg in North West, police said.
Colonel Emelda Setlhako said the man was taken into custody in Mogwase after a tip-off.
“He is alleged to have been luring young women by falsely promising them work in the mines around Rustenburg, taking their cellphones and demanding money before raping them in the nearby bushes.”
Setlhako said that on May 11, the man had approached a 19-year-old woman in Rustenburg, promising her that he would help her get a job at Impala platinum mine, as his brother was working there.
They agreed to meet on May 16, for an appointment with the “brother”.
“(They) boarded a taxi to Mogwase. On arrival, the suspect lured the victim to the bushes under false pretence that they were taking an alternative road to the mine. Whilst in the bushes, he allegedly raped the victim.”
Setlhako said the second victim was raped in similar circumstances on June 9.
She said the third woman was the cousin of one of the two victims. The man had met her in Randfontein Mall on Thursday, and she alerted the police.
Police made an agreement with her that she must board a taxi with him.
“While in Krugersdorp the taxi was stopped and police arrested the suspect.”
He would appear in the Mogwase Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges of rape and robbery. - Sapa