This study is the first of its kind to explore the phenomenon of serial rape from a behavioural profiling perspective within the South African context. The dearth of scientific research on serial rape in South Africa has impacted negatively on the recognition and investigation of such cases. The data set for the study consisted of police dockets, victim statements, court transcripts, detectives’ reports, and correctional services reports on nine serial rapists who assaulted and/or raped a total of seventy five victims. A behavioural profiling framework that was developed from existing literature was used to systematically analyse the victim and offender data using both qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques. Initial victim and offender profiles were constructed using key elements such as age, population group, modus operandi, and sexual behaviour of the offenders. The initial results showed that the South African serial rapists typically exhibit the same behavioural elements reported in international literature with respect to aspects such as the methods of approach utilised, average age of the victims, ages of the offenders, offender – victim relationship, and sexual acts. However, the research also illustrated that South African serial rapists also displayed some behavioural aspects that have not been reported in international literature. In particular, South African serial rapists approach and attack their victims at two different locations. The research also showed that South African serial rapists are more willing to target victims outside their own populations groups. Young children also appear to be targeted more frequently by the South African serial rapists. The South African offenders also employed a new method of approaching the intended victim (i.e. the delayed-con approach). The results are discussed in terms of the extent to which the behavioural patterns, similarities and differences with observations made in international literature, and current police practices with respect to the investigation of serial rape in South Africa could be utilised to enhance investigative processes. Also, specific areas in need of further examination are identified, as are strategies that could assist in decreasing the occurrence of ‘linkage blindness’ in serial rape investigations in South Africa. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Psychology / unrestricted

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Master of Arts / Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work / L. Susan Williams / Studies on fear of crime demonstrate that fear of rape controls women’s lives by altering emotions and behavior, though how women construct rape discourse through social networks has not been examined. Further, studies tend to dismiss stranger rape because of its rarity compared to acquaintance rape, but this study argues that research must begin where women are. This study looks to women’s voices to articulate how they talk about fear of rape; specifically, it examines responses to a serial rapist at work in a college town. Framed by feminist methodology, this study establishes the influence of fear on women’s lives and the role of women’s social networks in disseminating information, constructing strategies, and changing behavior as it relates to a local serial rapist. The study utilizes a multi-method approach to quantify levels of fear in the community and to document qualitatively women’s responses to knowledge about the serial rapist. Two surveys, content analysis of local newspapers, and interviews support this research. In particular, group interviews conducted in two environments – campus face-to-face groups and online virtual groups – provide opportunities for young women to voice concerns and report behavioral changes related to the serial rapes. The research demonstrates that women are concerned about insufficient information from formal sources and want more accurate reporting. Women depend heavily on informal networks for information, but it is often incomplete and/or inaccurate and may actually intensify fear. As documented in earlier research, women focus on stranger rape to the neglect of the more common acquaintance rape and tend to strategize in individual terms rather than recognize structural issues. A major finding of this research is that young women actually perceive a change in their own identity as they try to manage fear of rape. However, women’s social networks and, in particular, the increasingly popular online networks, provide a forum from which to try out strategies, build collective discourse, and, in turn, develop greater group consciousness among young women. From the experiences of women in this study, several policy implications are offered for managing fear, including education about the more likely threat of acquaintance rape.

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In this research docket analysis is evaluated as an investigative tool in stranger rape cases. Owing to the fact that serial rapists mostly reside within the category of stranger rape cases, the researcher attempted to test the value of docket analysis in the identification of patterns and similarities among such cases which could be indicative of serial rape activity. A rape matrix was used as a docket analysis tool to analyse the content of 184 stranger rape cases which was closed as ‘undetected’. In addition to investigative shortcomings in the case dockets, the researcher identified 15 stranger rape cases which presented six unique patterns among them. These identified patterns could be indicative of serial rape activity. / Criminology / M.Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

In this research docket analysis is evaluated as an investigative tool in stranger rape cases. Owing to the fact that serial rapists mostly reside within the category of stranger rape cases, the researcher attempted to test the value of docket analysis in the identification of patterns and similarities among such cases which could be indicative of serial rape activity. A rape matrix was used as a docket analysis tool to analyse the content of 184 stranger rape cases which was closed as ‘undetected’. In addition to investigative shortcomings in the case dockets, the researcher identified 15 stranger rape cases which presented six unique patterns among them. These identified patterns could be indicative of serial rape activity. / Criminology and Security Science / M.Tech. (Forensic Investigation)