TONGA – On May 25 a girl was kidnapped and raped in KaMhlushwa and only found days later. According to Capt Mzwandile Nyambi, Tonga SAPS spokesman, she was taken to a man’s house where she was kept in handcuffs and locked in a room. The girl was raped several times by the man before she managed to escape and make her way back home.
Her parents had reported her missing and contacted the police to report the rape when she was found.
The man was arrested and appeared in the Tonga Magistrate’s Court on two counts of rape. He was granted bail of R1 500 and will appear in court again on July 6.
“We as the police strongly condemn older people raping and abusing children and young girls. We thank the parents for immediately reporting the incident and urge others to do the same, instead of covering it up,” Nyambi said.
On May 31 at 01:00 a 25-year-old man was shot on his way home from work in Block B. Mr Themba Shabangu was shot in the chest, neck and left hip and died on the scene.
The motive for the crime is still unknown and police are searching for suspects.
Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the culprit is urged to contact the police station on 013-760-8300 or the investigating officer on 082-565-6763.
At 03:00 that day a 35-year-old man was killed by community members after he had been found snooping around a house in the same area. A woman living in the house reportedly heard footsteps in her yard and called for help.
Community members found Mr Amos Nkalanga in the area and assaulted him, after which he died.
This is the latest in a spate of mob-justice incidents in the past couple of months and Nyambi appeals to community members to stop taking the law into their own hands. “The community should call the police to come and arrest suspects instead of killing them,” he stated.
On June 3 a boy murdered his mother’s boyfriend in Block C. He assaulted the man because he reportedly did not want him in the house and then fled. The injured man was transported to Tonga Hospital where he died.
“Women need to communicate with their children, especially concerning boyfriends and stepfathers, to ensure misunderstandings and violence do not occur,” Nyambi advised.
Police are still searching for the boy and anyone with information regarding the incident or his whereabouts are urged to contact the police station.
