Five women were gang raped while six men were severely assaulted and a seventh man shot, during an attack at two funeral parlours near Leporing, along the R37, in Limpopo yesterday.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo says two women were walking along the R37 to visit someone at a funeral parlour when they were overpowered by six men who grabbed them and took them to the first mortuary.

There, an employee was shot and injured.

“They then went to a second mortuary and on arrival, found three female and six male employees,” says Mojapelo.

He says robbers severely assaulted the men with their firearms, rendering them unconscious. The women were gang raped and robbed of their belongings.

Mojapelo says the suspects took an undisclosed amount of money from a safe and fled the scene.

The victims were discovered by an employee who reported for duty and the police were alerted.

“Police found the victims on the ground and others on chairs. [They] were transported to hospital for medical treatment. Some of the female victims were also assaulted,” he says.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe launched a manhunt and urges the community to come forward with information to assist the police in hunting down the ‘heartless criminals’ and bring them to book.

Mojapelo says police are investigating five counts of rape, three of kidnapping, attempted murder and business robber.

Anyone with information can contact Lieutenant Colonel Lehlagane Mamadisa on 079 894 5482; the Crime Stop number (08600 10111) or their nearest police station.