Johannesburg - Residents of Makeneng village, Phuthaditjhaba, have helped catch a suspected serial rapist, Free State police said on Wednesday.
On Monday an 11-year-old victim of a serial rapist believed to be operating in the area spotted her alleged attacker while walking down the street, Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said.
Four cases of rape involving similar modus operandi had recently been opened in Tseseng, Namahadi, and Phuthaditjhaba.
Mophiring said the rapist targeted girls aged between 11 and 14.
When the girl saw her alleged attacker, her sister telephoned their father while residents followed the man.
The girls' father contacted the investigating officer who rushed to the scene.
“Upon noticing the police officer the suspect started to run away and was chased by about 80 to 100 members of the community,” Mophiring said.
He was caught and handed to police. The 27-year-old man would appear in the Tseseng Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
Sapa