A man from Gqeberha who is accused of sexually harassing female estate agents from across the country via WhatsApp appeared in the sexual offences court on Friday morning.
The 36-year-old Nicolaas van der Merwe pleaded guilty to all 13 charges against him, including exposing adults to lewd sexual acts and indecent exposure.
Van der Merwe started harassing women as far back as 2016 and was arrested last week after a three-month-long investigation.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says police took on the case after the Gauteng Provincial Serial and Electronic Crime Investigation Unit (SECI) was approached by a private investigator and a reporter from a mainstream media house, to ask for help in tracking down the suspect on behalf of the victims.
She says the unit interviewed 25 victims and established that the suspect used the same modus operandi.
Thirteen victims, all from Property24 came forward to lay formal charges.
Van der Merwe would randomly Google the names of estate agents who worked for Property24 from across the country and as soon as he had their numbers, he would call them via WhatsApp performing lewd sexual acts while still on the video call.
The matter has been postponed to the 3rd of November for the State to obtain a so-called SAPC 69 which is a background check and for legal aid, to get a correctional services report.
Colonel Naidu says since the story broke last weekend, three more women came forward.
She says police must now first establish whether the suspect is van der Merwe and if he can be linked to the new cases.
