Police RE-Arrest Rape Suspect in Rustenburg After Escape from Custody
A 23-year-old rape suspect was re-arrested in Rustenburg, Northwest, on Saturday, 06 September 2025, by a multi-disciplinary team just days after escaping from lawful custody. The suspect was first arrested in Umzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal, on 01 September 2025 for rape but later escaped custody.
Preliminary reports indicate that a 28-year-old woman from Sisulu location was on her way to her cousin’s house when the suspect confronted her. He allegedly forced her into a nearby house and raped her. The victim managed to escape while the suspect was asleep and immediately reported the matter to Umzimkhulu police, leading to his arrest later that day.
After his escape, a multi-disciplinary team consisting of National Crime Intelligence (Multi-Dimensional Organised Crime), Rustenburg District Crime Intelligence, Phokeng K9 Unit, Kokstad Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, and the Rustenburg Community Policing Forum (CPF) was mobilised to trace him. A tip-off directed the team to an address in Rustenburg, where the suspect was apprehended in the early hours of Saturday.
Investigations into the circumstances of his escape are ongoing. In August, police arrested 2 284 sexual offenders nationwide for crimes including rape, sexual assault, abduction, attempted rape, and related offences.
