Women warned to be wary of sex predators

Women from rural villages and townships in the region are cautioned to walk in groups, especially at night, to avoid becoming targets of sex criminals. This follows two separate incidents at Vhulaudzi village, outside Louis Trichardt, on Saturday, 16 December, where two women were sexually assaulted.

Limpopo police spokesperson Brig Hlulani Mashaba said that, in the first incident, the victim claimed that she had been at the local tavern with her husband when she had gone outside to relieve herself. “While she was busy pulling her underwear up, after she had relieved herself, a man she knows allegedly approached her and started to pull her underwear down forcefully, threatening her with a screwdriver. The victim screamed for help and the suspect let go of her and fled the scene in his motor vehicle. The suspect was traced and later arrested at Tshitavha village. He appeared in the Dzanani Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 18 December, on charges of sexual assault.”

The second incident happened at the Vhulaudzi soccer grounds, where the complainant and the suspect were watching a game of soccer. “The victim, aged 40, alleges that she was watching soccer when the suspect started fondling her breasts. When she questioned him as to why he was touching her, he allegedly poured beer over her and pushed her. The victim ran to the local police station, where she reported the incident. The suspect was arrested at Maelula village the same day and appeared in the Dzanani Magistrate’s Court on 18 December. Investigations are still ongoing,” Mashaba said.

Reacting to the two incidents at the village, Vhembe Concerned Group chairperson Mr Richard Ramabulana expressed his shock and disappointment. “Men are supposed to look after their families, but here we find men who treat women as their sex toys. Men who touch women’s private parts as they wish. Just imagine two incidents at the same village on the same day. This is shocking and it only shows that women are no longer safe here. We are very concerned about this, and we urge the police to show maximum visibility at public spaces. This will deter criminals from committing crimes. We also urge communities, but especially women, not to go out alone but to move in groups during these festive days,” he said.

Date:22 December 2023

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

Read: 3098