De Aar detectives secure life sentence for dangerous serial rapist

TWO DEDICATED Northern Cape detectives have ensured that a dangerous predator will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Detective Sergeant Ilse Fan and Detective Constable Eric Ngcapayi, from the De Aar Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit, played a crucial role in securing the life imprisonment sentence handed down to 29-year-old rapist Bonani Singape, whose reign of terror in Colesberg was brought to an end through meticulous investigative work.

Northern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers detailed the chilling events that led to Singape’s conviction.

On August 8, 2024, at approximately 5pm, a 20-year-old woman was approached by Singape while on her way to a local shop in Colesberg. Under the guise of selling her a laptop at a bargain price, he lured her into a secluded, bushy area. Once there, his true intentions became clear - he overpowered and raped her before robbing her of her cellphone and cash.

Less than a month later, on September 1, 2024, at around 10.30pm, Singape struck again. This time, a 37-year-old woman fell prey to his deceitful tactics. He approached her, again pretending to sell a laptop. When she refused, he turned violent, threatening her with a knife and dragging her into a nearby veld where he raped her. When she tried to resist, he stabbed her in the arm before fleeing with her cellphone and clothing.

Following an intensive investigation, Singape was arrested on September 12, 2024 and conclusively linked to both crimes. He remained in custody throughout the trial, leading up to his sentencing in the Colesberg Regional Court on Tuesday this week. He was convicted of rape, robbery, and aggravated robbery, earning him a life sentence behind bars.

In addition to his sentencing, the court ruled that Singape is unfit to possess a firearm, and his name will be entered into the National Register for Sex Offenders.

The Northern Cape SAPS provincial management commended Detective Sergeant Fan and Detective Constable Ngcapayi for their relentless pursuit of justice. Their commitment to ensuring that violent criminals are held accountable has brought a sense of relief to the community of Colesberg.

“The detective’s tenacity and meticulous investigation ensured that the perpetrator of these heinous crimes is removed from society.”

The authorities noted that the life sentence will serve as a firm reminder that crimes of this nature will not be tolerated, and justice will prevail for the victims of such heinous acts.