The South Gauteng High Court said on Tuesday it was in the interest of society for Ananias Mathe to remain behind bars for a long time.
Mathe was described as a violent, aggressive and anti-social criminal who terrorised his victims.
He was sentenced to 54 years in jail after being convicted of 64 charges including rape, indecent assault, attempted murder, robbery and housebreaking.
Judge Geraldine Borchers said Mathe’s claims of being trained in guerrilla tactics in Russia and being a helicopter pilot was romantic and fictitious.
She conceded the 33-year-old’s background as a child soldier in Mozambique may have forced him into a life of crime to make ends meet.
His claims of being a compassionate man who showed remorse for carrying out his vicious crime sprees was thrown out of court.
Borchers said Mathe’s Houdini-like escape from C-Max Prison in 2006 showed he was an expert in bridging security, adding his conduct was disturbing and smacked of a dangerous criminal whose chances of being rehabilitated were slim.
The judge said Mathe’s escape made him famous but was quick to add it was no a laughing matter.