Correctional Services has mistakenly released a suspected serial rapist.
|||A 28-year-old man awaiting trial for a string of crimes relating to the rape of 12 women was released by mistake, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Friday.
Mlungisi Mtshali was supposed to appear in court on Wednesday, but it was discovered he had been “erroneously released” by correctional services, NPA spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said.
Mtshali, who had been at large since February 13, had already threatened witnesses who “fear for their lives”, Mhaga said.
Mtshali was dubbed “the birthday rapist” because his modus operandi involved telling young women it was his birthday and inviting them to celebrate with him at a nearby restaurant or bar.
He would later ask one of them to accompany him to fetch his sister or a friend, taking a metered taxi into Hillbrow or central Johannesburg.
Mtshali then allegedly lured the women into a hotel room under the pretext of fetching his sister, the friend, or his luggage, and rape her.
He faces 120 charges, including rape, fraud, robbery, and kidnapping.
Mhaga said police were trying to track down Mtshali.
Comment from the department of correctional services could not be immediately obtained. - Sapa