Cape Town – Police in Limpopo have launched a manhunt after five women were allegedly gang-raped, one man shot and wounded, and six others assaulted by a group of six gun-wielding suspects at a funeral palour over the weekend.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said in a statement that the suspects reportedly stormed two funeral parlours on the R37 on Sunday morning after grabbing two women who were reportedly visiting a boyfriend at one of the funeral parlours.
The six armed men took the two women to the first funeral parlour where they shot and wounded one employee.
The suspects then proceeded to the next funeral parlour where they found three women and six men employees
“All six males were severely assaulted by the suspects, allegedly using the butts of their firearms, until they fell unconscious. All five females were gang-raped and robbed of their cellphones and other belongings. The suspects thereafter took an undisclosed amount of money from the safe and fled the scene,” said Mojapelo.
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The victims were found by another employee reporting for duty, who then alerted the police, he said.
“On arrival at the scene they (police) found the badly injured victims. Some female victims were also assaulted. The victims were transported to the hospital for medical treatment,” said Mojapelo.
Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe activated a team of investigators to hunt down the suspects.
“I urge community members to come forward with information to assist the police in cracking these cases as speedily as possible,” said Hadebe.
Five counts of rape, three counts of kidnapping, attempted murder and business robbery have been opened and police investigations are unfolding.
Anyone with information can contact Lieutenant Colonel Lehlagane Mamadisa on 079 894 5482 or the Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or the nearest police station or may via MySAPS app.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
