Gang rape horror on bridge between Seshego and Bloodriver
A 24-year-old woman was left to seek help at nearby households after she was forced to undress by three men in the early hours of last Friday morning.
POLOKWANE – Police this week confirmed the shocking details of a gang rape that occurred on the bridge between Seshego and Bloodriver on Friday.
Police spokesperson Serg Ali Maluleke during an exclusive interview with BONUS, said this was done in an effort to create awareness among women around their whereabouts at odd hours or in evidently unsafe areas. During the incident on Friday, a 24-year-old woman was intercepted by three men at around 00:30 and instructed to undress.
She had been walking home from her job not too far from her home.
Before sharing the details of the gruesome gang rape, Maluleke also confirmed that no protection had been used by either of her attackers.
She was left to seek help at nearby households after the three men fled. She subsequently received medical attention and psychosocial support.
Maluleke said his team believes the trio may be linked to similar crimes committed in Ga-Matlala in recent times, with the same modus operandi.
An informer from the area reached out to Maluleke over the weekend following a radio report about a request for assistance to trace the perpetrators. Investigations to find the three continue, Maluleke added.
In an unrelated incident, he said the stepfather of a 10-year-old girl from Mmakgodu in Moletjie is a suspect in her rape, of which the mother reported the case to the police. “Parents need to take extra measures when leaving their children in the care of any adult,” he said.
Social workers are assisting the child.
Provincially, Seshego Police Station records the second most rape cases after Mankweng in terms of crime statistics. It also is the fifth highest contributor of such cases nationally between October and December last year.
The stats according to a social worker, Patience Napo reflect how social cohesion organisations should prioritise community education on the protection of women and children and how these groups can also protect themselves.
She appealed to victims who have not sought extensive mental health support to do so before facing long-term severe post-traumatic disorders that can result in self blame and harm or of others.
