A 24-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTING TO RAPE A GIRL AGED 13, MEANWHILE A WOMAN AGED 19 WAS RAPED IN TINMYNE
POLOKWANE: The South African Police Service at Waterberg District are investigating cases of attempted rape and rape that took place separately, at Thabazimbi and Tinmyne respectively.
In Thabazimbi, the police arrested a 24-year-old male suspect for allegedly attempting to rape a girl-child aged 13, on Friday, 03 October 2023 at around 21h00 at Ext 5 Regorogile, Thabazimbi.
The complainant who is the mother of the minor child, alleges that she was sleeping when awakened by the screams of her daughter, telling her that the suspect has intruded into the house.
She quickly rushed to her daughter’s room, and found the suspect known to her half-naked and he ran outside, dressed up and fled on foot.
Their neighbours came in for assistance, they recovered a cellphone and watch, possibly left behind by suspect.
After some moments, the suspect returned, to fetch his belongings. He was then caught and locked into a room. The Police were summoned to the scene. They responded promptly, opened a case of rape and arrested him.
In another incident, the police received reports, on Friday, 03 November 2023 about a rape incident that occurred during the year 2020, the victim does not recall the month. A 19-year-old teenage girl was coming from soccer at a local sport ground, when attacked by group of suspects, and one of them raped her while other two tightly held her hands ensuring that she does not run away.
The suspects threatened to kill her, if she report the incident. She never informed anyone, until she dicided to tell her sister on Friday, 03 November 2023. A case of rape was then opened.
Both cases were transferred to FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) for further Police investigations.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the arrest of an attempted rape suspect. “We commend the community for guarding the suspect until handed to the police without taking law into their own hands .” said Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.
She further ordered effective investigation to arrest all the suspects involved in the rape of the 19-year-old and ensure justice is served.
The police investigations are still continuing.
