TEMBISA - Hardly a day goes by in South Africa without a report of a woman or child being attacked, violated or even being killed.
Since DNA laws were passed in 2015, over a million profiles have been recorded which assist police in identifying serial rapists.
For five years an alleged serial rapist terrorised women in Ekurhuleni.
Sipho Lucas Phiri was finally apprehended in January 2023.
The former Prasa security guard, who is married with children, is accused of raping at least 43 women.
It's alleged his modus operandi was to lure victims by offering them a lift home in his car.
He would then draw his gun, drive to a secluded area and rape them.
eNCA's Slindelo Masikane spoke to one of the victims who described Phiri's modus operandi.
"He was a talkative person in the car. When I lifted my head and looked at him, he was pointing a gun at me. He told me that he’s about to do something. He said I must comply and I mustn't scream. He drove me to a veld, told me to take off my pants and to sit at the back of the car. I can't remember whether he got out the car or jumped to the back, but that's when he raped me."
The victims are aged between 14 and 33 and were raped in Tembisa, Ivory Park, Putfontein, Norkem Park and Daveyton.
According to the 2024 crime statistics, over 10-thousand rape cases were reported.
Experts say a multifaceted approach is needed to combat serial rapists starting by making these cases a priority.
Equally vital is addressing societal attitudes that perpetuate rape culture, and a zero tolerance for violence against women and children.