A KwaZulu-Natal serial rapist smiled moments after being sentenced to in effect 25 years’ imprisonment by the Durban High Court on Monday.

Khanyisani Njabulo Ngobese, 27, a father of four, was convicted on 18 charges, 11 of them rape.

His victims included a 6-year-old girl, a pregnant woman and a disabled woman. He raped another victim shortly before she was due to attend the annual Zulu reed dance, an important rite of passage for young women.

In handing down her judgment, Judge Kate Pillay said Ngobese had denied any involvement in many of the crimes.

Ngobese was first arrested in 2011, but after a docket from the Verulam police did not reach court, charges against him were withdrawn. He continued his crimes until his second arrest in 2013. By that point he had attacked another six women.

Pillay said the prosecution emphasised the fact that Ngobese showed no respect for the disabled victim.

“His attitude throughout this trial is that women were there for his pleasure. He has not even shown any regret for what has happened to these women. Despite overwhelming evidence he continued to believe a story which in his mind was true.”

Outlining Ngobese’s state of mind, Pillay said he always sought a mother’s love.

“He expected his girlfriends to give him motherly love, but he always found the wrong person. He wanted his girlfriends to look after him.”

Ngobese was expected to appeal.