A 10-year-old girl escaped after she and her aunt were allegedly tied to separate trees by a man accused of kidnapping and raping the woman, before police tracked down and arrested the 39-year-old suspect at a farm in Limpopo.
The suspect was arrested on Monday in Hoopdal under the Waterberg District following a police operation involving Visible Policing officers, detectives, Hoopdal Rural Safety and Mayunga Protection Services.
Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the incident unfolded on Saturday, May 9, when the suspect allegedly confronted his ex-girlfriend, a 37-year-old woman, and her 10-year-old niece while they were walking from the woman’s workplace.
“The suspect allegedly threatened the victims and tied them to separate trees a few metres apart from each other. The minor child reportedly managed to escape unharmed after freeing herself and ran to Skierlik Village to seek assistance.”
The woman reportedly escaped the following day after the suspect allegedly left her unattended.
Ledwaba confirmed the arrest and said officers acted swiftly after receiving information about the suspect’s whereabouts.
“Acting on information received regarding the whereabouts of the suspect, members attached to Hoopdal Visible Policing, Detectives, Hoopdal Rural Safety, and Mayunga Protection Services, swiftly operationalised and traced the suspect to a farm, where he was found sleeping inside a dwelling,” said Ledwaba.
Preliminary investigations further revealed that the suspect allegedly raped the woman during the ordeal.
The matter has been referred to the Thabazimbi Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation.
The 39-year-old suspect is expected to appear before the Thabazimbi Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, May 13.
The Star