Crime spikes on plots, load shedding takes blame

Residents living on smallholdings north of Pretoria are concerned about the hike in crime in the area after a Dutch Reformed Church was robbed and a woman raped earlier this week.

A resident, who didn’t want to be named, spoke about the attack on a couple renting the property on the church grounds.

Shots fired

“I woke up from the bang, bang sounds. I heard shots being fired,” she said.

“I just heard hooting at the gate and we went to check what the commotion was about. It was very traumatising,” she said.

The suspects reportedly cut the fence to enter the property when the male victim came out because of the the noise.

“The couple was attacked and overpowered. The suspects allegedly put a bag over the woman’s head – and then you know what they did,” she said.

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Separate incidents

The attack happened during load shedding. In March, six incidents of housebreakings and a shooting were reported in the area.

Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the police were investigating a case of rape and business robbery after a couple was tied up and robbed on Wednesday.

“It is alleged that the woman and her husband were asleep when they heard a noise. Upon opening the door and checking what was happening, four unknown black men stomped into the room. One of the suspects fired a shot into the air,” she said.

Nevhuhulwi said the suspects beat the husband and one reportedly raped his wife, while the other ransacked the house for cellphones, laptops, clothes, and other household equipment.

“The suspects also broke into the church and stole a generator and sound system before fleeing. “Both victims went to a local hospital for medical examination,” Nevhuhulwi said.

Rurals under threat

Action Society founder Ian Cameron said rural areas were under threat. “This incident was one of several violent incidents in the past month.

On 16 March, a female in the area was wounded in the stomach and hand and her son was shot in the leg.”

Cameron said things could only get worse.

“Police can’t solve these matters and if they do it falls through in court. “The conviction rate is at an all-time low. Conviction rates of rape are less than 7%.”

Cameron said communities needed their own community safety structures to safeguard themselves because the state is failing them in that regard.

Housebreaking and robberies

Criminologist Professor Jaco Barkhuizen said housebreaking and robberies have increased in South Africa due to the continued load shedding.

“Criminals know with a lack of electricity comes a lack of security systems and darkness to move around. Smallholdings and churches are soft targets because [they are] often isolated from people,” he said.

Barkhuizen said criminals knew it took police a long time to reach a smallholding. “The longer the load shedding and the higher the stages become, the more likely we will see crime increasing,” he said.

READ MORE: Crime vs load shedding

– marizkac@citizen.co.za