Residents of Mpheni are still stunned, following a very disturbing incident in the village, where unknown men allegedly raped, assaulted and stabbed a 42-year-old woman. The incident happened on Saturday night.
According to the provincial police spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo, the woman was walking alongside the road at about 21:30 when assailants approached her and allegedly dragged her into the nearby bushes, where they raped and assaulted her before stabbing her. He said that the assailants left her to die in the bushes where she was discovered on Sunday by a passer-by.
The victim is currently receiving treatment at the nearby hospital. Preliminary investigations revealed that the woman could have been assaulted with a blunt object to her face and head.
Mojapelo added that a case of rape and attempted murder had been opened with the police. "Members of our detective unit are busy conducting an investigation and hopefully we will soon make a breakthrough," promised Mojapelo.
Limpopo Transport and Community Safety MEC Mavhungu Lerule Ramakhanya expressed her shock after the incident. Ramakhanya said that she was worried about the continuing scourge of violence against vulnerable groups in society. She is calling on communities to assist the police with information that can lead to the arrest of the people responsible for such heinous crimes.
Ramakhanya said her department would work in partnership with different structures, civil organisations, community members and government bodies to fight the scourge of violence against women and children in the area. "If we can join hands and work together in partnerships, we can win the war against women and child abuse," she said.