Authorities in South Africa have apprehended a repeat sexual offender who deceived female jobseekers by impersonating a recruitment agent to lure and assault them.
The individual was detained by Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) officers in Phoenix, KwaZulu-Natal, and subsequently transferred to the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Sunday, October 12, 2025.
This arrest followed an investigation initiated after two women sought help from a Reaction Unit officer on Friday. They reported receiving unsolicited calls from a man offering employment opportunities and arranging to meet them the next morning on Fernham Drive in Westham, Phoenix.
During the arranged meeting, the suspect claimed to have secured kitchen staff positions for the women and guided them on foot toward the supposed workplace. However, near Gandhi Park along Phoenix Highway, he diverted them onto a secluded path, citing it as a shortcut.
Once out of public sight, the man allegedly robbed both women of their mobile phones and sexually assaulted one of them. The victims managed to escape and sought immediate assistance. Despite a swift search by Reaction Officers, the suspect was not captured at that time.
On Sunday, officers patrolling near Gandhi Park spotted a well-dressed man with distinctive facial scars matching the victims’ description. After questioning and confirmation by one of the victims, the suspect was taken into custody.
During questioning, the man disclosed that he hails from Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape and has been homeless in Phoenix since June 2025. He confessed to targeting women by pretending to offer job placements, then leading them to isolated areas where he would rob and sexually assault them.
He explained that he collected contact details by approaching strangers, claiming he could help secure jobs for their relatives or friends. He convinced these individuals to share phone numbers by stating that a preliminary telephone interview was necessary before any in-person meeting.
Detectives from the Phoenix Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit linked the suspect to several rape cases in the Brookdale and Gandhi Park areas of KwaZulu-Natal. Records show he had previously served time for sexual assault and robbery, having been released in May 2025.
The suspect remains in custody at the SAPS Phoenix station as investigations continue.
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