The Mpumalanga MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Jackie Macie has called for the swift arrest of the perpetrator involved in the rape of two pupils in Mzinti over the last week.
Two learners, aged 16 and 17, were raped while on their way to school in Mzinti on the morning of September 2. The suspect is still at large. Macie has urged the police to work around the clock to ensure the suspect’s arrest.
ALSO READ: Life imprisonment killer who stabbed girlfriend to death
He also applauded the police for the arrest of a 27-year-old man in connection with the murder of an 11-year-old girl in Hendrina.
The body of the girl was discovered with stab wounds and the police believe that she might have been raped. The girl had been reported missing and was found 100 metres from the suspect’s shack on August 25.
We need to do all that we can to ensure that their aggressors face the full might of the law. The two young people were on their way to school to learn when the incident took place and now their future might be affected due to this traumatic experience.
The Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said the suspect had been evading arrest since August. He said the investigation indicated that the suspect had been out on bail of R5 000 for the murder case of a 31-year-old man in February. He is expected to appear in court soon.
“We cannot fail these young people as the government. We need to do all that we can to ensure that their aggressors face the full might of the law. The two young people were on their way to school to learn when the incident took place and now their future might be affected due to this traumatic experience. These perpetrators of crime have no place in our communities. We cannot have people who, instead of protecting our children, torment them,” he said.
ALSO READ: Mbombela pastor sentenced to life in prison for rape of minor
Macie added that the deployment of the Crime Prevention Wardens in various communities strengthened the existing policing structures to curb crimes and locate wanted suspects throughout the province.
“These wardens are expected to assist the police in dealing with crime faster. Most of these perpetrators are known in communities and sometimes community members are afraid to speak. We believe that the deployment of these wardens will strengthen the turnaround time of solving criminal cases,” Macie said
Lowvelder
www.citizen.co.za
