S.African Navy sailor on 34 charges of rape

[Rape is our national sport. Jan]

A Navy seaman appeared in the Wynberg magistrate's court on Wednesday in connection with 34 charges of rape involving crimes all over the Cape Flats.

The 33-year-old man, who is stationed at Simon's Town, was arrested at his home in Mitchells Plain on Monday.

The alleged incidents have been occurring since 2001.

The arrest of the suspect by Nyanga detectives follows a long and intensive investigation.

Police said the leading seaman was being linked to cases of rape and attempted rape going back as far as 1996.

"The reason we believe that the same perpetrator was involved in all these reported cases is that the modus operandi show various similarities in all the cases," said police spokesperson Captain Elliot Sinyangana.

This suggested that "the same perpetrator might have been involved in all of them", he said.

During his brief appearance on Wednesday, the well-built man, wearing a navy-blue jacket and brown trousers, appeared calm.

He did not apply for bail as he apparently needs time to instruct his lawyer, Mushtak Parker.

The man cannot be named until he has pleaded to the charges.

Hafisa Mohammed was the presiding magistrate and Dawn Coleman appeared for the state.

The state is in the early stages of its investigation and it is possible that police may charge the man with more rapes.

The matter has been postponed to next Wednesday.

The seaman is being held at Goodwood prison.

Police would not give any more details about the charges the man is facing.

This article was originally published on page 1 of Cape Argus on July 27, 2005

Source: Independent Online (IOL)

URL: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click...