{"id":298807,"date":"2026-06-08T11:41:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T09:41:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/?p=298807"},"modified":"2026-06-08T11:41:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T09:41:33","slug":"dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/","title":{"rendered":"DNA evidence links serial rapist and robber to decade-long crime spree"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Thabong, Welkom<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Free State police have welcomed the sentence handed down by the Welkom Regional Court against Mzinkwe Leonard Binda (48), who was sentenced to life imprisonment on Tuesday, 2 June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binda&#8217;s conviction follows f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1BGSEKxWFs\/\">orensic analysis <\/a>and investigative work that brought closure to a series of crimes spanning more than a decade across Thabong, Welkom and Bloemfontein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The sentencing stems from an incident that occurred on 13 October 2006 at approximately 20:30. A victim (41) was inside her locked home when Binda unlawfully gained entry. Armed with a knife, he kidnapped the victim and forced her into an abandoned container across the street, where he raped her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He then forced her back into her residence, demanded money and raped her an additional two times inside her bedroom before fleeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"877\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"298813\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/binda-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Binda-1-scaled.png\" data-orig-size=\"2192,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Binda 1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Binda-1-877x1024.png\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Binda-1-877x1024.png\" alt=\"DNA evidence convicts serial offender\" class=\"wp-image-298813\" srcset=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Binda-1-877x1024.png 877w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Binda-1-257x300.png 257w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Binda-1-768x897.png 768w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Binda-1-1320x1542.png 1320w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Binda-1-600x701.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 877px) 100vw, 877px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the incident, cases of burglary, kidnapping and rape were registered. Because the suspect was unknown at the time, SAPS investigators collected DNA evidence from the scene for processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binda was arrested in 2023 on an unrelated charge of house robbery. Following his arrest, forensic DNA analysis linked him to unresolved cases in the Thabong area:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>2010: Assault GBH, house robbery and rape (withdrawn as the victim is currently untraceable)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2018: Business robbery<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2019: House robbery and three counts of rape (withdrawn as both victims have since passed away)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>On 25 March 2023, he was officially charged by sergeant Pontsho Mokoena of the Thabong Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On 2 June 2026, the Welkom Regional Court found Binda guilty on the 2006 charges and sentenced him to life imprisonment for rape, five years&#8217; imprisonment for kidnapping and three years&#8217; imprisonment for burglary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He remains on trial in the Welkom Magistrate&#8217;s Court for a 2019 Welkom house robbery case, and a business robbery case in Bloemfontein remains pending against him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Free State Provincial Commissioner lieutenant general Thabang Lesia said the sentence demonstrates that justice prevails. &#8220;We commend the investigative work of sergeant Pontsho Mokoena from the Thabong FCS Unit, who worked alongside state prosecutor Mathoka to build the case,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ALSO READ: <a href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/father-sentenced-to-life-imprisonment-for-rape-of-biological-daughter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Father sentenced to life imprisonment for rape of biological daughter<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Free State police have welcomed the sentence handed down by the Welkom Regional Court against Mzinkwe Leonard Binda (48), who was sentenced to life imprisonment on Tuesday, 2 June.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":298773,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"71","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"30","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"2","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"9603","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9603,7970],"tags":[8878,7911,9634,8550,8775,9635,8932,91,7980],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-298807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime","category-news","tag-assault","tag-crime","tag-dna","tag-gbv","tag-rape","tag-serialrapist","tag-thabong","tag-top","tag-welkom"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1BGSEKxWFs\/ Victim Justice | Vista<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Life imprisonment for Mzinkwe Leonard Binda marks a significant closure for crimes in Thabong and Welkom. Read more about the case.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"DNA evidence links serial rapist and robber to decade-long crime spree\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Life imprisonment for Mzinkwe Leonard Binda marks a significant closure for crimes in Thabong and Welkom. Read more about the case.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Vista\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/VistaNewsNuus\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-08T09:41:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-08T09:41:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"758\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"747\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Marti Will\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Marti Will\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Marti Will\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5fcff7984992abaf4b29a15603295956\"},\"headline\":\"DNA evidence links serial rapist and robber to decade-long crime spree\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-08T09:41:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-08T09:41:33+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":353,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Assault\",\"Crime\",\"DNA\",\"GBV\",\"Rape\",\"Serialrapist\",\"Thabong\",\"Top\",\"Welkom\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Crime\",\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2026\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/\",\"name\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/share\\\/p\\\/1BGSEKxWFs\\\/ Victim Justice | Vista\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-08T09:41:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-08T09:41:33+00:00\",\"description\":\"Life imprisonment for Mzinkwe Leonard Binda marks a significant closure for crimes in Thabong and Welkom. Read more about the case.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg\",\"width\":758,\"height\":747,\"caption\":\"Vista Crime\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Crime\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/crime\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"DNA evidence links serial rapist and robber to decade-long crime spree\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/\",\"name\":\"Vista News\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Vista News\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/vista-site-icon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/vista-site-icon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Vista News\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/VistaNewsNuus\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/vistanewspaper\"],\"description\":\"Vista is a regional newspaper based in Welkom, the capital of Matjhabeng Municipality, in the central Free State. Vista, an English\\\/Afrikaans publication, first brought news to the community on 23 April 1971, with the following message on the front page: \u201cWe are here to write about the Goldfield and its people. We are here to serve the area in which we find ourselves, and with the help of our readers \u2013 who refine us with their constructive criticism.\",\"email\":\"vistanews@novusmedia.co.za\",\"telephone\":\"+27573571304\",\"legalName\":\"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd\",\"foundingDate\":\"2025-01-01\",\"vatID\":\"4100318916\",\"taxID\":\"2000\\\/018234\\\/07\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"51\",\"maxValue\":\"200\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5fcff7984992abaf4b29a15603295956\",\"name\":\"Marti Will\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8fc11fdeaed1ad25e241ff69e1251e7b5aaa716191f8e7160d3f8bd61e465cf2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8fc11fdeaed1ad25e241ff69e1251e7b5aaa716191f8e7160d3f8bd61e465cf2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8fc11fdeaed1ad25e241ff69e1251e7b5aaa716191f8e7160d3f8bd61e465cf2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Marti Will\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/vistanews\\\/author\\\/marti-will\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1BGSEKxWFs\/ Victim Justice | Vista","description":"Life imprisonment for Mzinkwe Leonard Binda marks a significant closure for crimes in Thabong and Welkom. Read more about the case.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"DNA evidence links serial rapist and robber to decade-long crime spree","og_description":"Life imprisonment for Mzinkwe Leonard Binda marks a significant closure for crimes in Thabong and Welkom. Read more about the case.","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/","og_site_name":"Vista","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/VistaNewsNuus","article_published_time":"2026-06-08T09:41:32+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-06-08T09:41:33+00:00","og_image":[{"width":758,"height":747,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Marti Will","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Marti Will","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/"},"author":{"name":"Marti Will","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/#\/schema\/person\/5fcff7984992abaf4b29a15603295956"},"headline":"DNA evidence links serial rapist and robber to decade-long crime spree","datePublished":"2026-06-08T09:41:32+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-08T09:41:33+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/"},"wordCount":353,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg","keywords":["Assault","Crime","DNA","GBV","Rape","Serialrapist","Thabong","Top","Welkom"],"articleSection":["Crime","News"],"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2026","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/","name":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/1BGSEKxWFs\/ Victim Justice | Vista","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg","datePublished":"2026-06-08T09:41:32+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-08T09:41:33+00:00","description":"Life imprisonment for Mzinkwe Leonard Binda marks a significant closure for crimes in Thabong and Welkom. Read more about the case.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg","width":758,"height":747,"caption":"Vista Crime"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/dna-evidence-links-serial-rapist-and-robber-to-decade-long-crime-spree\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Crime","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/crime\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"DNA evidence links serial rapist and robber to decade-long crime spree"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/","name":"Vista News","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/#organization","name":"Vista News","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/vista-site-icon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/vista-site-icon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Vista News"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/VistaNewsNuus","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vistanewspaper"],"description":"Vista is a regional newspaper based in Welkom, the capital of Matjhabeng Municipality, in the central Free State. Vista, an English\/Afrikaans publication, first brought news to the community on 23 April 1971, with the following message on the front page: \u201cWe are here to write about the Goldfield and its people. We are here to serve the area in which we find ourselves, and with the help of our readers \u2013 who refine us with their constructive criticism.","email":"vistanews@novusmedia.co.za","telephone":"+27573571304","legalName":"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd","foundingDate":"2025-01-01","vatID":"4100318916","taxID":"2000\/018234\/07","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"51","maxValue":"200"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/#\/schema\/person\/5fcff7984992abaf4b29a15603295956","name":"Marti Will","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8fc11fdeaed1ad25e241ff69e1251e7b5aaa716191f8e7160d3f8bd61e465cf2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8fc11fdeaed1ad25e241ff69e1251e7b5aaa716191f8e7160d3f8bd61e465cf2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8fc11fdeaed1ad25e241ff69e1251e7b5aaa716191f8e7160d3f8bd61e465cf2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Marti Will"},"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/author\/marti-will\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":298697,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/man-sentenced-to-two-life-terms-for-murder-and-rape\/","url_meta":{"origin":298807,"position":0},"title":"Man sentenced to two life terms for murder and rape","author":"Vista","date":"5 June 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The court heard that Nkatsa followed his victim to her destination in Bothaville in the early hours of Friday, 4 August 2023. He raped her and stabbed her 17 times with a knife before fleeing the scene.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Court&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Court","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/court\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Vista Crime","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Vista-Instagram-logo-CRIME-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":298792,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/farm-attackers-receive-20-year-sentences-for-brutal-robbery-and-kidnapping\/","url_meta":{"origin":298807,"position":1},"title":"Farm attackers receive 20-year sentences for brutal robbery and kidnapping","author":"Helena Barnard","date":"6 June 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A former employee are among the two men who were jailed for a farm robbery and kidnapping near Smithfield, which took place last year.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Court&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Court","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/court\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Five men convicted of the rape and murder of 17-year-old Cytheria Rex.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Child-sex-e1748603151261.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Child-sex-e1748603151261.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Child-sex-e1748603151261.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Child-sex-e1748603151261.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Child-sex-e1748603151261.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":298644,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/two-men-aged-42-and-46-have-been-arrested-on-the-r82-near-kragbron-after-police-intercepted-a-grey-gwm-bakkie-believed-to-have-been-stolen-in-bloemfontein\/","url_meta":{"origin":298807,"position":2},"title":"Two arrested with suspected stolen bakkie from Bloemfontein","author":"Vista","date":"3 June 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Two men aged 42 and 46 have been arrested on the R82 near Kragbron after police intercepted a grey GWM bakkie believed to have been stolen in Bloemfontein.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Crime&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Crime","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/crime\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Police officers display the grey GWM bakkie recovered near Kragbron after a swift intelligence-driven operation led to the arrest of two suspects on the R82.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GRAY-GWM-stolen-bakkie-found.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GRAY-GWM-stolen-bakkie-found.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GRAY-GWM-stolen-bakkie-found.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GRAY-GWM-stolen-bakkie-found.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GRAY-GWM-stolen-bakkie-found.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GRAY-GWM-stolen-bakkie-found.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Vista","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=298807"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":298814,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298807\/revisions\/298814"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/298773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=298807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=298807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=298807"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=298807"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=298807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}