North West Premier Thandi Modise applauds the partnership between the community and the police that has led to the re-arrest of a serial rapist fugitive who had been on the run from the police for the past six weeks. 

The 33-year-old man is expected to appear on charges of escaping from lawful custody in the Brits Magistrates Court today.  

“The arrest of Boas Jacob Kgatlhane has brought much relief and signifies the importance of working together to win the war against crime and lawlessness,” highlighted Premier Modise.

The Premier who had urged police not to spare efforts to ensure the arrest of Kgatlhane and called on communities to assist police in their investigations said that with the active support of communities and vigilance, opportunistic crime could be prevented particularly during the festive season. 

Modise urged women and young girls to avoid walking alone in isolated spots and to use whistles to draw attention in case they are attacked.   

According to police, the accused has been hiding at the nearby bushes at Zone 6 in Letlhabile township and was arrested on Friday at around 23:00 as a result of community participation who assisted the police in tracing him. 

The accused reportedly frequented a shack in zone 10 for food and to refresh and was when he was arrested police had to ensure that the relevant and the right person had been arrested through confirmation of his fingerprints and other relevant information.

Kgatlhane who is supposed to face 13 rape charges in the Limpopo and North West provinces preyed on teenage girls aged between 17 since April 2009 until August 2013 whom he allegedly targeted while they were walking alone.

North West Provincial Spokesperson, Brigadier Thulane Ngubane says that  the charges he has to face include one count of rape in Mecklenburg, three counts in Thabazimbi, two in Lethabong (North West) and seven in Letlhabile, near Brits. 

Ngubane said that Kgatlhane escaped on September 17 while being escorted from the Brits court after a short appearance, where he was denied bail. 

He allegedly kicked open the door of the police vehicle transporting him and bolted when it stopped at a traffic light.-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_