It is alleged that the police in Tzaneen received a report of a rape on the outskirts of Tzaneen near the SAPS Supply Chain Management Offices. At the scene, they found a 30-year-old woman who reported that she was travelling in a Suzuki Swift with a 44-year-old man. “On the road next to the Sasol garage, they offered a lift to two men.

While travelling along the Georges Valley road, one of the passengers asked the driver to stop and demanded he pull the handbrake. “The driver refused to pull the handbrake and one of the men produced a firearm and shot him point blank from the back. They instructed the woman to move to the back seat, dumped the deceased on a gravel road, and drove with the woman towards town,” said Col Malesela Ledwaba, the provincial spokesperson.

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They robbed her of cash, bank cards, cellphones and made cash transactions with their cards. They then drove into the bushes, raped her, and fled the scene in the car leaving her behind. The victim managed to walk until she reached the SAPS supply chain office where she reported the matter to the police. The car was later found burnt in the Letsitele area.

The police are investigating a case of murder, rape, malicious damage to property, robbery and hijacking. Anyone with information that can assist in the apprehension of the suspects may contact WO Phaladi Makola at 082 749 2233, visit the nearest police station, call the crime stop number 08600 10111, or go to MySapsApp online.