Alleged serial rapist claims victim consented to sex for R500 and a job offer

An alleged serial rapist told the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday that he offered one of his victims money for sex.

Sipho Lucas Phiri is accused of more than 100 sexual crimes, which allegedly took place between 2018 and 2023. He faces a number of charges, including rape, kidnapping, pointing of a firearm, and forcing someone to witness a sexual act.

Phiri is currently testifying at the Pretoria High Court, which is sitting at the Benoni Magistrates Court.

He is testifying about an incident involving one of the 37 women who claim they were sexually assaulted by him. He told the court that he met the victim in Putfontein near a police station, where she was hitchhiking for a lift to work.

Speaking through an interpreter, Phiri told the court that the woman complained about being underpaid and expressed a desire to earn more money.

Phiri, who was working as a security guard at PRASA at the time, admitted that he lied to the woman, telling her he was a supervisor at a mine and could offer her better employment.

“I was convincing her to have sexual intercourse with me, I was giving her the impression that I can make her problems go away,” Phiri stated.

He added that he offered her R500 for the sexual act, in exchange for a job, and alleged that she consented.

Phiri admitted that he did not pay her, saying he had a work emergency, and then left her at her workplace.

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