Jiyane Serial rapist

Photo: Pixabay

‘Facebook Rapist’ Thokozani Jiyane sentenced to eight life terms and 223 years in prison

Thokozani Jiyane, 23, a serial rapist that operated in Boksburg between December 2019 and February 2020, was handed a hefty sentence.

Jiyane Serial rapist

Photo: Pixabay

The Johannesburg High Court sentenced Thokozani Jiyane, also known as the “Facebook Rapist”, to eight life terms and 223 years imprisonment for raping at least ten women during his reign of terror that lasted from December 2019 until February 2020.

‘FACEBOOK RAPIST’ MODUS OPERANDI

According to South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Colonel N Kweza, the serial rapist earned his nickname in Reigerpark, Boksburg in December 2019. Jiyane lured his victims via Facebook, enticing them with opportunities in the film industry and offering jobs to unsuspecting women.

“He promised his victims work in the industry while others he promised them to promote his clothing label,” said Kweza. “As soon as his targets gave in to his entices, Jiyane would inbox them on Facebook and WhatsApp and request their photos.”

Next, the 23-year-old would attempt to arrange a face-to-face meeting with his victims and asked them to travel to the Angelo informal settlement in Boksburg. This is where he struck and strangled his victims before raping and robbing them, according to police.

“Once they meet up with him, Jiyane would rob his victims of their cellular phones and bank cards and later rape them,” said Kweza. “He also forced some of them to have oral sex with him. Jiyane’s victims came as far as from Middelburg, Mpumalanga, Hammanskraal, KwaMhlanga, Soweto, Vosloorus and Westonaria.”

The police said the offences were committed between December 2019 and February 2020 and the modus operandi in all the cases were the same. Jiyane was positively identified by six of his victims during an identity parade.

The Cyber Unit played a pivotal reaching justice for the victims. The police said the cases were hampered by forensic struggles but the Cyber Unit managed to retrieve sufficient information from Facebook correspondence between Jiyane and his victims. “And this assisted his investigations and ensured that he received the outstanding sentence of 8 life sentences,” said Kweza.

JIYANE’S PREVIOUS ARREST AND SENTENCING

Jiyane was arrested by Captain SM Manaka from the FCS Unit in Brakpan in March 2020. The rapist was apprehended in Angelo informal settlement, Boksburg after an informant tipped the police off. He was initially charged with three cases and the rest were added later.

Jiyane was previously arrested in October 2019, in Delmas, Mpumalanga, but the matter never made it to court as the prosecutor felt he was not properly linked to the offence, according to the police. Upon his release from custody, the rapist got into “the first taxi out of Delmas” and headed to Boksburg and continued his reign of terror.

The Johannesburg High Court sentenced Jiyane to a further 223 years in prison after he was found guilty of 17 counts of rape, 10 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, two counts of kidnapping, assault GBH and three counts of fraud.