Local

A condom left at a crime scene almost seven years ago has sealed the fate of a rapist from Graaff Reinet who will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Luxolo Tyali says 26-year-old Siphosethu Simons pleaded guilty to two counts of rape after DNA positively linked him to the crimes.

A 30-year-old man has been linked through his DNA to at least 14 rape cases in the rural parts of the Eastern Cape. A spokesperson for police Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli says the victims were raped in Tsolo and Butterworth over the last seven years.

Eastern Cape Municipalities owe power utility Eskom a staggering R4.7bn.

Gqeberha police have opened up an inquest docket after a 31-year-old man took his own life in St Georges Park. Spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says the victim was doing maintenance work at a block of flats in Park Drive on Wednesday when he hanged himself.

Mpumalanga Police have welcomed the arrest of a 36-year-old suspect who was allegedly behind the kidnapping of an American couple en route to the Kruger National Park. Provincial Spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli says the incident happened last week Thursday on the R536 in the Calcutta area.

Police in Colchester are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a 21-year-old man was killed in a single-vehicle accident on Wednesday. Spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says the victim was a passenger in a Renault Kwid that was driven by a 36-year-old man.

Police in Gqeberha are investigating a case of culpable homicide after an unknown man died in a single-vehicle accident on Tuesday. Spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says at about 10 pm, the victim, driving a white Isuzu KB LDV on the N2 left the road, landing in the river.

The leader of the ACDP in the Eastern Cape, Lance Grootboom on Tuesday laid fraud charges against Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor, Gary Van Niekerk at the Humewood police station.

A six-year-old Grade 1 learner from Holy Cross Primary School in George has become the youngest patron of the George Library to publish his first book. Liam Tait's first book "The Dream of Animals" was launched at the local library on Monday as part of National Literacy Month.