NELSPRUIT – The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela has commended members of the police at Bushbuckridge for their swift response and arrest of two suspects, both aged 43 on 09 May 2022. The two are due to appear at the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court today, 10 May 2022 on rape charges.
In the first incident, on 09 May 2022 at Shangaanhill, a mother left her three-year-old daughter with her neighbours as she always does whenever she goes away. When she returned home, it is reported that when she wanted to bath her, the little girl told her mom that she was experiencing some pains in her body. On further questioning, the girl informed her that she was raped by one of the neighbours after calling her aside. The matter was then reported to the police who traced and arrested the suspect who was charged for rape.
In the second instance, on the same Monday, 09 May 2022, at Violetbank near Bushbuckridge, a 38-year-old female victim was coming from her friend’s place around 18:00, when she met the a man who is known to her. He allegedly grabbed her as well as dragged her to the nearest bushes and reportedly raped her. The victim managed to break loose and reported the matter to the police. Members then quickly went out in sought of the suspect whom they arrested and charged for rape as well.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has assured the public that each case involving women and children is regarded as a priority and police will not hesitate to use all available resources to track down and arrest perpetrators thereof without fear or favour. “We hope our communities will continue to have confidence and trust on the ability of police to investigate and ensure that all perpetrators of Gender Based Violence are brought to book. What we need as police is simple, we need the support from the public as well as valuable information that can assist in our investigations,” said Lieutenant General Manamela.
Source: South African Police Service