POLOKWANE – The Limpopo Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego has urged the Ga-Chuene community to come forward with any information that could lead to the arrest of an armed man involved in an abduction and rape incident in the early hours of this morning.

Two nurses stationed at the Chuene Clinic were abducted at gunpoint, assaulted and raped.

“This incident is not just an attack on our clinic; it is an affront to the very fabric of our community. The individuals responsible for this crime are not strangers, they may be living among us. Surely, as community members, we must know something. I urge every member of our community to rise up and assist the police in their investigation. We must come together, share any information, and support law enforcement in their relentless pursuit of justice,” her statement read.

Health spokesperson Neil Shikwambana says the heavily armed man entered the clinic at around 01:00 and overpowered three security personnel and tied them up before abducting two nurses.

“The nurses were on night duty and they only reappeared around 05:00 this morning,” he stated.

Mashego says the “deplorable” incident is a serious setback to the department’s efforts to ensure clinics run 24-hours a day.

“How can we convince our staff to work night shifts to serve the community if the same community turns against them in such a violent manner?”

Shikwambana says the police were called to the scene and psychological support has been arranged for the victims.

Mashego promised that the department will not rest until the perpetrator is found and brought to justice.

Meanwhile, the provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has ordered an immediate investigation into the matter.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba says the suspect faces charges of business robbery, kidnapping, and two counts of rape.

“After the suspect tied two security guards up at gunpoint, he instructed one of the security guards to lead him to the clinic premises, where two female nurses were on duty. He searched their bags at gunpoint and robbed them of their cellphones. He then took the two nurses out of the premises on foot to the nearby bushes and instructed them to undress themselves, sexually assaulted them and fled the scene.”

Mashaba says the two traumatised nurses managed to walk back to the clinic and were then transferred to the nearby hospital for medical attention.

Hadebe has assembled a multi-disciplinary team to expedite the investigation and bring the perpetrator to book to face the full might of law.

She also appealed to community members to come forward with any information that could assist the investigation team in locating the suspect.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect involved should contact the Lebowakgomo Detective Commander Colonel Mmapitsi Sekotlong on 082 565 8234, the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPSApp.

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