/ 20 February 2004

Serial rapist found guilty — 23 times

Johannesburg serial rapist Fanwell Khumalo was on Friday found guilty on 23 of the 126 charges he faces — and Judge Max Labe is to continue delivering his judgement on Monday.

On Friday the chef was found guilty in the Johannesburg High Court of nine rapes, eight kidnappings, four indecent assaults, one attempted rape and a robbery.

Labe will on Monday deliver judgement on the other 103 charges.

The judge told Khumalo many young girls had lost their innocence at his hands, some so innocent they did not even know they were being raped.

”Their lives were totally changed,” said Labe.

He recalled how one victim told the court earlier this year that she had started taking drugs to escape reality because of her ordeal.

Eventually her mother realised that something was wrong and sent the child for rehabilitation after finding the drugs in her school bag.

Labe found Khumalo not guilty of two kidnappings and one assault.

Khumalo raped and attacked numerous schoolgirls aged between nine and 13 between May 1997 and May 2001.

On Friday the judge dealt with the charges dating from May 1997 to October 1998.

Labe’s judgement follows a trial that lasted 90 court days. — Sapa