The tourist town of Bela-Bela has seen a steady increase in women suspects arrested for various crimes.
The latest is a Zimbabwean national who was arrested on Thursday 10 October, together with two male suspects, in connection with house-breaking, from which two firearms and rounds of ammunition were stolen.
The three unnamed Zimbabwean nationals were expected to appear before the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court on charges of house- breaking on Monday 4 November.
They also face charges of the possession of unlicensed firearms, and entering the country without proper documentation.
The Zimbabwean female suspect adds to a steadily-growing number of women arrested for various crimes, among these a daring Hollywood-style armed robbery at a downtown Bela-Bela clothing store.
Four suspects — two of them women — allegedly stormed the Exact clothing chain branch, helping themselves to a number of valuable items, among these clothing and mobile phones.
Bela-Bela police spokesperson, Sergeant Frans Maponya, was not immediately available to comment on the state of the case or further investigations.
In early October Maponya was on record confirming that two other women were part of a shoplifting syndicate, which allegedly stole clothing and mobile phones from stores across parts of the
Waterberg.
Legal proceedings continue in the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court, where the foursome last appeared on Tuesday 8 October.
During the month of August, The BEAT ran a breaking front page story based on the arrest and subsequent court appearance of two alleged backstreet night-time girls.
The young women were arrested together with an alleged pimp, following a case laid by a local store manager, claiming alleged extortion.
At the time the police confirmed that a cash amount of R1 500 had been exchanged, allegedly in two separate incidents.
The so-called pimp was also charged with allegedly impersonating a police officer.
Bela-Bela’s professional nurse, Lizzy Rachidumela, attributed the rising crime rate among women to “greed”.
She said there were many women who were unemployed but still conducted themselves with dignity.
To the contrary, motivational speaker, Dr Albertina Nambi, said she believed women going to such extremes are driven by “poverty” and “unemployment”.
“If we can create more awareness that everyone has it in us to win despite our backgrounds … we can all eradicate poverty and create more job opportunities,” she said.
— The BEAT
