A 49-year-old man arrested in connection with murders and rapes on farms around Philippi in the Western Cape was released on Friday.
No evidence could link the man to the incidents, said police spokesperson Captain Elliot Sinyangana.
”He could, however, be re-arrested if new evidence emerges,” he said.
The man had appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Monday and had been scheduled to appear again on Monday to apply for bail.
He had allegedly called himself ”Jesus”.
While under arrest, police found him lying unresponsive in his cell one morning. They tried to wake him up, but he did not respond.
He was taken to a local day hospital, from where he was referred to Groote Schuur hospital. After an examination, doctors declared him fit since they could not find anything wrong with him.
It was suspected that the man faked his condition to escape appearing in court.
He was being held in Pollsmoor prison. — Sapa