Limpopo man arrested for allegedly raping five minors

Limpopo authorities have confirmed the arrest of a 43-year-old male who is linked to the sexual assault of five minors., aged between four and 10.

Limpopo police rescue suspect from mob justice

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, the suspect was arrested at Tswinga Gotha, a village in Thohoyandou on Sunday after two of the minors reported that he allegedly sexually assaulted them.

“Two of the alleged rape survivors, aged eight and 10, are from the same family and were allegedly raped on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 February 2020 respectively. The other three survivors, aged four, seven and nine, are from different families,” Mojapelo said.

Limpopo police revealed in a statement that it’s alleged the 43-year-old forced the girls to go to his residence where he then allegedly raped them.

“Community members received information, caught the suspect and started assaulting him. The police were alerted and reacted swiftly. The suspect was then rescued and arrested,” the statement read.

The suspect, whose identity has not been released by Limpopo police yet, appeared before the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Monday to enter a plea and state his bail intentions.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba expressed her shock at the heinous acts allegedly committed by the suspect and called on investigators, as well as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), to ensure a conviction and fight for the maximum punishment.

“The provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, has strongly condemned these incidents and has instructed members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses (FCS) Unit to tighten all the screws when investigating these cases to secure a conviction,” Mojapelo said.

If found guilty, the suspect faces the maximum sentence that can be meted out by the South African criminal justice system, which is life in prison without the possibility of parole.