Case against alleged serial rapist set for trial

Case against alleged serial rapist set for trial

The High Court of South Africa; North West Division, sitting at the Klerksdorp Regional Court, postponed the case against Johannes Ontsheketse Tshabile (43), to 16 October 2023 for trial. Tshabile is facing 22 charges of rape, 9 of robbery with aggravating circumstances, 5 of attempted murder, 17 of assault, 7 of attempted robbery and 5 of theft.

All 65 charges are related to incidents that occurred between December 2012 and May 2018, at Wolmaransstad in the district of Maquassi Hills, whereat he would allegedly accost unsuspecting women holding a knife or a sharp object, and start threatening them. He would subsequently assault, rob and rape them before fleeing the scene.

In some instances, he allegedly would confront women walking in a group and start throwing objects at them, ordering them to run. He would thereafter target one of them, assault, strangle and rape the victim. Evidence gathered indicates that in some instances he was assisted by an unknown accomplice, who is yet to be arrested. He was apprehended in 2019 after evading arrest and the court denied him bail.

Both the state and his defence attorney assured the Judge President, Ronald Hendricks, that all documents relating to the trial have been shared and both are ready to proceed. Meanwhile, Tshabile will remain in police custody until the matter is concluded.

Issued by,

Henry Mamothame

NPA Regional Spokesperson

North West Division

082 317 5731