Man arrested for rapes, robberies in and around Polokwane
In one of the incidents, the man reportedly raped a woman he promised to employ.
POLOKWANE – Provincial police have arrested a 40-year-old man for a number of rape and robbery cases in and around the city.
Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said the man, who was arrested on September 22, reportedly promised his victims employment as cleaners.
“The suspect was arrested at Luthuli Park under the Seshego policing area following an intelligence-driven joint operation by the Provincial Tracking Team, Polokwane Family Violence Unit, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit and Westenburg detectives,” Mojapelo explained in a statement.
The man is one of 1 369 suspects arrested for various crimes across the province.
Read more here: 1 369 nabbed in Limpopo cops’ weekly operations
“In one of the incidents that occurred on July 26 at about 08:30 in Westenburg outside Polokwane, the suspect approached a 28-year-old woman who was walking with her friend. He promised them employment as cleaners and they then went to nearby bushes to talk further,” Mojapelo said.
He explained that the man then threatened them with a knife.
“He tied up the one woman using shoe laces and raped her friend in front of her. The suspect also robbed the victims of cellphones and money,” he added.
Mojapelo said another woman, aged 32, was also reportedly raped and robbed of her money and cellphone by the same man.
“Per cellphone conversation, the same man reportedly arranged with the victim to meet up in Nirvana on September 1. The duo then proceeded to a location just outside the city where the victim was raped,” he explained.
The man appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Monday (September 27) and his cases were postponed to September 30 for bail application.
“Investigations are underway to link the suspect with more similar cases,” Mojapelo concluded.
