Vuwani police have arrested four suspects in connection with the rape of an 18-year-old girl and her 36-year-old mother. The incident happened last week Thursday at Lwamondo village.
According to police information, the suspects, who are between the ages of 22 and 24, forced open a window of the victim's house. Once in the house, one suspect supposedly gagged the mother whilst the remaining suspects proceeded to her daughter's room.
Sometime during the attack the girl was allegedly dragged from her house and raped outside by one suspect, while her mother was also raped by another suspect. After the rape, the suspects fled from the scene on foot, making off with the victims' cell phone, cash and clothing.
Shortly after the incident, police set up a task team to investigate the matter. The first arrest was made on Thursday, while the remaining three suspects were arrested over the weekend.
All four appeared in the Vuvani Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of rape and house robbery. Their names are known to the Zoutpansberger / Limpopo Mirror but are being withheld until the time that they make a plea before the court.
In the meantime, provincial police spokesperson Lt Col Ronel Otto confirmed on Monday that the police are also still looking for three more suspects who had allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl at Mvelaphanda village. This incident happened at the same time that the daughter and mother were raped.
The two incidents could not be linked.