Convicted serial rapist denies crimes, asks for mercy

His victims want him to “rot in jail” but convicted serial rapist Albert Justice Morake still denies raping them.

Morake, 35, of Ivory Park in Tembisa, northeast of Johannesburg, was found guilty in January on 144 of the 175 charges he was facing, including 30 of rape, 41 of kidnapping, 24 of robbery with aggravating circumstances, three of attempted robbery and one of attempted murder.

He pleaded not guilty on all charges, but he was linked through DNA evidence to most of his rape victims. He is due to be sentenced next month.

Morake would break into women’s homes and take them to a secluded veld, where he would rape them. He would force them to wash at a dam afterwards.

Testifying in mitigation of sentence in the Johannesburg High Court at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Morake denied raping the women and said they lied in court.

“I’ve heard all the women who came to testify that they are hurt. I feel sorry for them. I am not the one who raped them.

“I am asking the court to have an element of mercy and impose a lesser sentence on me,” he said.

One of Morake's victims, speaking outside court, said she was hoping that Morake would at least show remorse and apologise for what he did.

“He lied about me and claimed that I was a jealous girlfriend who wanted him arrested. I wish the court could see him for what he is,” she said.

“I can’t wait for this to be over. This man took away my self esteem and dignity,” another woman said.

A third woman said: “He must go away forever. He is not a human being. A person like him deserves to rot in jail.”

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Velekhaya Mgobhozi said the prosecution was asking the court to sentence Morake to life imprisonment on each count of rape and for the sentences not to run concurrently.