The state is expected to add 142 counts of rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery and theft to the crimes the alleged Ekurhuleni serial rapist committed when he appears in court on Tuesday.
Nkosinathi Phakathi, 36, has been positively linked to at least 52 criminal cases through DNA. Before his court appearance on Monday, Phakathi had been facing 50 cases of rape however, he has now been linked to 39 new rape cases.
Phakathi of Daveyton on the East Rand, who allegedly terrorised women in Ekurhuleni for nine years, is facing 50 counts of rape, and a further 11 of sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery and theft.
A source close to the investigations said 142 more counts are expected to be added to the charges Phakathi is already facing, taking the total number of counts to 203. The state is expected to bring in about 300 witnesses when the trial starts.
The source said more than 100 victims were interviewed during the investigations and that witnesses ranging from victims, police and various experts are expected to testify.
Dressed in a blue jersey and grey sweat pants and walking on crutches, Phakathi appeared at the Daveyton magistrate’s court on Monday for his bail application verdict. He had been in prison hospital since his arrest in March last year. Police had to shoot him in the leg in order to effect the arrest.
In court his aunt, sister and a woman who described herself as a family friend sat behind Phakathi.
Magistrate Vinny Gobind dismissed Phakathi’s application for bail.
Gobind said due to the nature of the rape crimes allegedly committed by Phakathi, he has the capacity to intimidate and interfere with witnesses.
“The suspect is a danger to the public and a flight risk who resisted arrest by running away from the police on the day he was arrested. Police approached him and identified themselves as police but he started to run and when police told him to stop he continued running and police had to run after him and shoot him to apprehend him,” said Gobind.
Phakathi was arrested at Barcelona in Etwatwa after a search operation was conducted focusing on the immediate vicinity where he had been spotted by his victim.
His alleged victims are spread around areas east of Benoni, including Daveyton, Putfontein and Crystal Park, and his rape spree dates back to 2012.
Police said the victims in these cases were aged between 12 and 20 years old.
While pleading his case Phakathi, a father of three, told the court that he was making R3,000 a week from selling second-hand cars. He pleaded with the court to grant him bail because of his alleged deteriorating medical condition and his collapsing business.
Police said they had no record of the business.
He has been kept at a prison hospital at Modderbee Correctional Services in Benoni after his right leg was amputated after being shot by the police.
Phakathi told the court he was not receiving proper medical treatment and not being given suitable medication for pain.
He did not provide any medical documentation to support his claims nor documents to support that his alleged business was in financial distress.
When asked about his employment status and the ages of his children, the aunt, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she did not know as she lives n Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.
“We do not believe these charges. We are shocked. He [Phakathi] is not a naughty child and does not talk too much,” said the aunt.
The trial is expected to run from May 23 to June 17 at the Pretoria high court sitting in Benoni.
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