The survivors of the Birthday Rapist's attacks have formed a support group to help each other deal with their psychological and emotional pain, the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court heard this week.
Social workers who interviewed the victims of Mlungisi Mtshali, 31 - called the "Birthday Rapist" because he convinced women to spend time with him by saying that he was celebrating his birthday - told the court that the 20 women who had been assessed reported depression and anxiety, with some drinking heavily.
Mtshali was convicted on 112 counts of rape, kidnapping, sexual assault, assault and theft. Sentencing is expected today.
Social worker Maggie Sibanyoni said many of Mtshali's victims could no longer trust men and some had changed their appearance to look less attractive.
The court heard that one survivor who had obtained a tertiary qualification after the rape was now too despondent to look for work. A married survivor, who was raped throughout the night in a Hillbrow hotel, found it difficult to be intimate with her husband, according to social worker Nomonde Ntshona.
Mtshali, who is representing himself after firing three lawyers, told the court yesterday that he took full responsibility for his actions.
But prosecutor Penny Pillay attacked his show of "regret and pity for himself", saying the admission was self-serving and lacked real remorse because he had refused to admit to raping the women.
A social worker told the court on Wednesday that Mtshali was in denial about his crimes and had refused to accept his conviction.
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