Seven robberies, 3 rapes, 1 attempted murder: Limpopo attackers' 150-minute reign of terror
Police are searching for two people who terrorised residents of the Hoveni village in Limpopo.
The pair committed a series of violent house robberies and rapes in the Maake policing area.
Police are probing three separate incidents of rape and attempted murder.
Limpopo police have launched an intensive manhunt for two people who, in less than three hours on Friday night and Saturday morning, allegedly robbed seven houses, raped three people and attempted to kill a man in Hoveni village.
According to Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, their reign of terror started at 23:30 on Friday and ended at 02:00 on Saturday.
Ledwaba said the crimes were committed in a coordinated and calculated series of attacks.
'The suspects, armed with firearms, forcibly entered homes by breaking down doors, demanding money and valuables from victims, and committing serious violent crimes, including multiple counts of rape involving minors,' Ledwaba said.
Cash and cellphones were stolen.
'Three separate incidents of rape [occurred], including the sexual assault of minors aged 14 and 15, and [an] attempted murder, where a male victim was shot multiple times ...' Ledwaba said.
The man has been hospitalised.
There were also reports of serious assaults and multiple instances in which shots were fired.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe expressed outrage.
'What we have witnessed in Hoveni village is an attack, not just on individual families, but on the safety and dignity of our entire community,' he said.
'I have directed our most experienced detectives to prioritise this case and ordered the deployment of additional specialised units to the area. These dangerous criminals will be found and they will face the full might of the law.'
He added: 'Forensic teams have already recovered several pieces of evidence from the crime scenes, including empty cartridges. A specialised task team comprising detectives from the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit, Crime Intelligence, and Tactical Response Team has been established to investigate these cases.'
'The level of violence and depravity shown during this crime spree is deeply disturbing,' the commissioner said.
'These criminals showed complete disregard for human life and dignity, particularly targeting vulnerable women and children. We will not rest until they are behind bars,' she warned.
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