On Saturday, 06 September 2025, a multi-disciplinary team re-arrested a 23-year-old rape suspect in Rustenburg, North West, just days after he escaped from lawful custody.
The suspect was initially arrested in Umzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal, on 01 September 2025 for rape, but later managed to escape from custody.
According to a preliminary report, a 28-year-old woman from Sisulu location was on her way to her cousin’s home when the suspect accosted her. He allegedly forced her into a nearby house, where he raped her. The victim reportedly managed to escape while the suspect was asleep and immediately reported the incident to the Umzimkhulu police station. The suspect was arrested later that same day.
Following his escape, a multi-disciplinary team comprising members from National Crime Intelligence (Multi-Dimensional Organised Crime), Rustenburg District Crime Intelligence, Phokeng K9 Unit, Kokstad Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, with support from the Rustenburg Community Policing Forum (CPF), was assembled to trace and re-arrest the suspect.
A tip-off led the team to an identified address in Rustenburg, where the suspect was successfully apprehended in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The circumstances surrounding the suspect’s escape form part of ongoing investigations.
Just last month, police arrested 2 284 sexual offenders across the country for crimes including rape, sexual assault, abduction, attempted rape, and other related offences.
