Pretoria - A 31-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Taung Magistrate’s Court tomorrow for allegedly raping a 78-year-old woman in Maphoitsile village.
According to police, the elderly woman was gathering firewood when she was allegedly accosted by the suspect and raped at about 2pm yesterday.
The woman told her son about the ordeal, who alerted members of the community. A manhunt by the community led them to the suspect, who they found drinking at a shebeen. He was then handed over to the police.
North West Premier Thandi Modise condemned the incident, calling for no bail for the arrested suspect.
Modise said it was shocking that the alleged rape was committed by a parolee on the first day of the 16 Days of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children.
“It is shocking that this despicable act happened to an elderly woman, who was known to the alleged perpetrator. We call on our rural communities to unite against the scourge of gender based violence and to take active steps to protect our grannies.”
She said it was clear that South Africa was faced with a very serious problem that needs to be confronted through concerted efforts by all members of society and wiped out. – SAnews.gov.za
