The absence of a psychiatric report on Tuesday delayed the sentencing of convicted serial rapist Tsediso Letsoenya in the Cape High Court.

Letsoenya, a former naval officer, was to be sentenced on 28 counts of rape, 28 of indecent assault, two of attempted rape, eight of aggravated armed robbery, two of assault and two of crimen injuria.

However, at the request of prosecutor Christenus van der Vijver, Judge Abe Motala last month referred Letsoenya to the Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital for an assessment which will determine whether Letsoenya qualifies to be jailed as a dangerous criminal.

If he does, the court will formally declare him a dangerous criminal, which involves the "indeterminate" sentence ? a period longer than life imprisonment (25 years).

Such a sentence would exclude Letsoenya's eventual release on parole, without him first appearing in the Cape High Court for a further assessment as to his release on parole or his continued imprisonment.

The case was postponed to 11 May.