Two in court for hijacking, rape

Two suspects appeared in the Mahwelereng Magistrate’s Court earlier this week on charges of hijacking and rape after a woman was allegedly hijacked and repeatedly raped at Bakenberg recently.
Provincial Police Spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe confirmed that Moses Serame and Sam Thapelo will appear in court again on 31 May and 3 May respectively. He could, however not say whether they were still in custody.
This came after a woman who had left her vehicle parked in the Mokopane Central Business District upon her return found two unknown men awaiting her inside the vehicle. “One was seated in the front passenger seat and the other at the back. They allegedly ordered her to drive out of town to a certain point near Bakenberg where they reportedly gang raped her,” Ngoepe said.
He added that they drove with her throughout the night until the vehicle ran out of fuel. “One of the suspects went to buy fuel while the other remained with the victim. Local community members became suspicious of the vehicle, mobilised, made a citizens’ arrest of one suspect and rescued the victim,” Ngoepe said.
The Police were called to the scene and immediate investigations led to the arrest of the second suspect.
“The South African Police Service would like to commend the Bakenberg community for an excellent and professional job well done for arresting the suspect and handing him over to Police without taking the law into their own hands. This is how members of the community should deal with criminals,” Ngoepe said.

Story: RC MYBURGH
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