AFTER being on the run for more than eight months, convicted felon, rapist and violent robber Tumelo Vincent Kgwedi has been cuffed again.
Kgwedi (25) from Riba Cross, near Burgersfort became notorious and feared in his village and the whole of the Tubatse area because of the viciousness of the crimes he committed, and his apparent lack of remorse.
He was arrested on the weekend of February 15, after the police spotted him selling socks, as he strolled down the streets of Johannesburg. This followed a tip-off from the public who’d heard the police’s pleas to help find the ruthless thug. The person who assisted in the arrest will receive a reward of R10 000.
Capt Mahlathini Ngele from the Tubatse cluster police said Kgwedi began his criminal reign of terror in 2011 by violently burgling people’s homes.
“He first raped a woman in 2011, a teenager from Riba Cross. He was arrested in 2013 but mysteriously escaped at Mecklenburg SAPS by pretending to be someone who was supposed to be released on that day,” said Ngele.
Kgwedi was charged with eight counts of rape, all linked by DNA testing, four of attempted murder, 10 housebreaking, two charges of escaping from custody, two murder cases and additional counts of being in unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, plus theft and attempted theft.
Because he is regarded as such a high escape risk he was incarcerated in a special facility and will be under 24-hour guard. Ngele said Kgwedi would appear in the Mecklenburg magistrate’s court tomorrow (Thursday), after the postponement of his court cases that were heard on February 24.
Meanwhile Ngele also warned Tubatse residents of a gang that was operating between the Burgersfort and the Tubatse Crossing malls. According to Ngele more than two women had been robbed and raped on that road. “They target pedestrians using the footpaths; we recently had cases of a woman and a teenager who had been raped.”
Motorists driving cars with immobilising devices were urged to ensure their vehicles were properly locked after parking them. “There is a group that is tampering with the immobilisers – they prevent the cars from locking by pressing their own devices and stealing valuables like laptops, cellphones, airtime and cash from shoppers’ cars.”
Ngele also issued a stern warning to ATM users to be vigilant and to avoid seeking assistance from strangers and rather asking the security officers for assistance.
Anyone who has information regarding any of the above crimes can contact him on 083 695 9543.
