Trial against alleged Ekurhuleni serial rapist continues with testimony in court

The trial of the alleged Ekurhuleni serial rapist, who is accused of more than 100 sexual crimes, continues on Wednesday with his testimony in court.

On Tuesday, Sipho Lucas Phiri was questioned by his defence attorney, Marianne Mapuru, at the Pretoria High Court sitting at the Benoni Magistrates Court.

He faces charges including rape, kidnapping, pointing of a firearm, fraud and obstruction of justice.

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Phiri told the court that a firearm referenced by at least 37 alleged victims was a private one and not the one from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), where he worked as a security guard.

He has, however, declined having it during one alleged rape incident in 2021.

“I knew I would convince her to have sex with me, so I lied to her, saying I could solve her financial issues.”

VICTIM ACCUSED OF THROWING FIT

Phiri has accused one of his victims of throwing a fit after he refused to pay her for sex, claiming the act was consensual.

He admitted to the Pretoria High Court that he falsely promised one of his victims employment if she agreed to sleep with him after their first encounter.

The alleged incident happened in 2021 in his vehicle, in Putfontein, after he gave her a lift to go to work, then promised her R500 for sex and later employment at a mine.

He said after the sexual act, he told the victim that he could not pay her because he had to rush to work.

“By then, she was different. I could tell from her face that she was not convinced.”

He added that she was not happy that he did not honour their alleged agreement.

“As I stopped, she opened the door and banged the door behind her.”

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