FREE STATE – The Phuthaditjhaba Family, Child Protection and Sexual offences and Phuthaditjhaba K9 Unit successfully arrested two suspects who allegedly took turns in raping a woman in her house in the presence of her two daughters, aged eight and thirteen.

One of the accused appeared shortly before the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate Court on Friday, 11 March 2022 facing charges of four counts of rape and pointing of a firearm.

It is alleged that on Wednesday, 9 March 2022 at about 04:00, the 30-year-old woman of Chris Hani Park was sleeping with her two daughters when she heard a noise in the kitchen’s at the door. She went and looked through the bedroom window. She saw two male persons wearing blankets, one with a firearm in his hand and other with a stick. She tried to escape through a window but the suspect came, pushed her back and gained entry through that same window.

The two suspects allegedly raped her several times pointing her with a firearm and left the scene.

One suspects was traced and arrested on Thursday and appeared in court on Friday. Another suspect was traced and found in possession of an unlicensed firearm hidden in the backyard garden by a police member of the Phuthaditjhaba K9 Unit. He was positively linked to the rape case also. He is expected to appear before Tseki Magistrate Court soon facing a charge of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The case will also be referred to Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate for appearance of rape and pointing of firearm incident at Chris Hani Park.

The acting Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Maj General Solly Lesia applauded members for the good work and warned people who possess unlicensed firearm and ammunitions that no stone will be left unturned as police will recover such firearms and they will be prosecuted.

Source: South African Police Service