HAZYVIEW – The two suspects who allegedly raped two women from Gauteng at Tatenda Guest House two weeks ago, were finally apprehended yesterday.
The arrest of the first suspect, a 25-year old, follows a break-in at Kruger Park Lodge earlier the same day. During the robbery the suspect, together with two accomplices, broke into two chalets – one occupied by two women from Boksburg and the other by an elderly couple from Cape Town.
The suspects stole cash, cellphones, cameras and I-pads. The incident was reported and the police and officials of local security companies embarked on an extensive search and apprehended the first suspect at Mariti Village near Hazyview. He was allegedly in possession of some of the items belonging to the victims who had been robbed at Kruger Park Lodge.
Officials later received information about the second suspect who was spotted in the bushes in the same village. He too was arrested soon after – also with suspected stolen items in his possession.
When questioned by the police, this second suspect apparently admitted that he and the first suspect broke into Tatenda and robbed and raped the two female guests. One of them was five months pregnant at the time of the incident.
He further confessed that, going back as far as 2008, he was part of a gang who broke into a house in Hazyview which was occupied by a single woman. They held her at gunpoint and robbed her of electronic equipment and other items before fleeing.
The police are investigating other criminal activities related to the suspects and it is believed that they are part of a gang operating in Hazyview.
“Though the robberies in Hazyview remain a cause of concern, it must be borne in mind that the SAPS management is doing all in its disposal to counter and stabilise criminal activities in the province”, says provincial commissioner Lt Genl Thulani Ntobela.
The provincial commissioner also asked that if the community had information which may relate to this case or other criminal activity, to report it to the police immediately. The suspects will appear before the White River Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
• It is believed that these suspects were not involved in the incident which took place at Aan de Vliet Guest Lodge last month where 106 pupils of a primary school in Gauteng were robbed of their belongings.
