Rhodes Memorial rape: CCTV, phone records to be probed

The case against a man accused of raping a 23-year-old UCT student near Rhodes Memorial has been postponed so that cellphone records and suveillance footage could be investigated.

Cape Town – The Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday postponed the case against a 35-year-old man accused of raping a 23-year-old woman near Rhodes Memorial and the University of Cape Town (UCT) for further investigations.

This would include cellphone records, surveillance footage, and statements.

The suspect, casually dressed in a white hoodie and a pair of jeans, stands accused of raping a UCT student in November 2015.

After a four-month investigation, the signal from a stolen cellphone alerted police to the accused’s whereabouts, and they arrested him in March at his hide-out on the mountain slopes near Rhodes Memorial.

At least four other women were raped during this period and it has been reported that the suspect has, through DNA, been positively linked to those victims.

The accused was shunned by his sister when he attempted to use her address in his bail application. He allegedly uses several names and is believed to be in possession of numerous identity documents.

He abandoned his bail application in March.

In court on Tuesday, the suspect’s defence lawyer requested that the suspect be informed of any further charges, as were his rights.

The magistrate expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of the case docket in court, despite the investigating officer being present.

The case was postponed to June 21 to allow for the necessary investigations to give the State an opportunity to inform the court of its progress.

African News Agency