STATE Prosecutor Andre Ludick on Tuesday closed his case against Jabulani Dlamini, dubbed the ‘City Serial Rapist’, currently standing trial for 10 counts of rape and eight counts of robbery and assault.
Dlamini is accused of raping nine women in four months in the City of uMhlathuze before moving on to Harding, where he was arrested at the scene of the last alleged rape.
Chained at the ankles, Dlamini took to the stand on Tuesday and repeatedly denied the charges against him, accusing Harding police officers of wrongful arrest.
Despite at least five of the charges being linked to Dlamini through DNA, he has maintained his innocence throughout, including when he testified he had ‘no knowledge’ of any of the charges for which he is being tried.
During cross-examination, Dlamini accused police officers of planting his DNA evidence on the victims, planting the last victim’s underwear in his bag and fabricating a story of her presence at the scene of his arrest.
Moreover, Dlamini accused one of the arresting officers of removing two photographs from his bag and handing them to the victims at last year’s identity parade.
Despite DNA from his mouth swab linking him to the rapes, Dlamini accused police officers of planting his blood on the victims after allegedly assaulting him.
During their testimonies, the victims revealed the brutality of the rapes, all testifying they were strangled before being raped.
As a result of strangulation, one victim said she fainted, sustained a fractured oesophagus and was raped while she was passed out.
Another victim was allegedly forced to drink Vodka until she complied and the final victim testified she was forced to drink benzene before the rape. This victim also testified that she was hit repeatedly with a rock and pretended to be dead.
After the rape, the accused allegedly covered her with cardboard, thinking she was dead.
Investigating Officer Captain Xaba of the Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FSC), strongly believes there are other victims and urged them to come forward and contact him on 082 5517647.
Xaba also believes further victims of the accused may have died during their ordeal.
The case was adjourned to Wednesday for the Prosecutor and Defence Lawyer’s arguments.
@TamlynJolly
