LIMPOPO – According to a police report, the deceased known as Mr Maluleka (61) and his 55-year-old wife were in their house when they were attacked by unknown assailants. It is alleged Maluleka was shot under chin with an unknown calibre firearm and died on the scene. His wife, who was shot in the chest, managed to escape and was later taken to hospital by a person from a neighbouring farm. Spokesperson for the Police in Limpopo, Col Moatshe Ngoepe said the incident took place at around 20:00 last Sunday.
Police are investigating cases of murder, attempted murder and house robbery. The murder and the brutal shooting of the couple angered the DA, who has called on Police Minister Beki Cele to make farm killings and crime in general, a priority.
“Crime prevents tourists from visiting our country. It also prevents investors from investing in our country. All this have a negative bearing to our democracy and to our livelihood,” said Jacques Smalle, Provincial Leader. Smalle suggested that the national government should reintroduce well-resourced and specialised units to successfully prevent and investigate specific crimes such as rural farm attacks, murder, robbery, stock theft, child abuse, drug, human trafficking and rape. Smalle said rape was also a very serious crime in the country. His sentiments come at a time when three men, aged 34, 21 and 18 were arrested for rape at the weekend. According to Ngoepe, a 34-year old woman was raped while praying in a church in the early hours last Saturday. He said a man wearing a balaclava attacked the woman with a sharp object, during her prayer session.
“The suspect dragged the woman out of the church to the nearby village of N’wamitwa, tied her up and raped her. The man then fled the scene with the victim’s cellphone,” said Ngoepe.
He added that in the Bolobedu area near Tzaneen the previous Friday, two suspects were arrested for raping two women at gunpoint. The victims allegedly met the suspects who then threatened them with the guns and dragged them into the bushes before raping them. After the ordeal, Ngoepe said the two victims ran to the nearby village for assistance.
“Community members then responded and hunted down the rapists. They were handed over to the police. One firearm, magazines and two cellphones where recovered,” added Ngoepe.
