The man known as the “Muldersdrift serial rapist”, Shavhani Lazzy Phophi, was today sentenced to two life terms plus 97 years after being convicted in June this year on six counts of rape, two counts of theft and three counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
Phophi, 34 years of age, was charged with the rape of five adult women and the attempted rape of one adult woman, who managed to escape from him, as well as the rape of an eight year old child. All the attacks took place in the Muldersdrift area, Gauteng.
The accused was arrested on 2 June 2010 by members of the Investigative Psychology Unit of the SAPS within two weeks of the case being assigned to them.
Despite Phophi’s ludicrous defence that he was a male prostitute and the victims were his “clients”, good detective work and solid evidence – including DNA which directly linked him to the six rapes - proved to be his downfall. He was also found guilty on two counts of theft and three counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances.
As preventing and combating crimes against women and children remain a top priority for the SAPS, this sentence is welcomed and the investigation team of the Investigative Psychology Unit is to be congratulated on an outstanding victory.
Media contact :
Brigadier Sally de Beer
Cell: 082 779 8658
Source: South African Police Service
