Latest news with #Thabana
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Police hunt suspect who raped and hammered 60-year-old Free State woman in her home
The suspect allegedly raped and hit the woman on her head with a hammer, leaving her bleeding profusely. Police in the Free State are seeking information that could lead them to a suspect who raped and hammered a 60-year-old woman at her Bothaville home on Saturday. The Welkom Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) is investigating a rape case following the gruesome attack that left the woman hospitalised. Woman found bleeding from the head Regional police spokesperson Sergeant Palesa Thabana said Bothaville police attended to a rape complaint at around 12.15pm on 26 July, where they found the woman bleeding profusely from the head. 'It is alleged that on the [said] date, the victim had just entered her house when she was accosted by an unknown African male who allegedly hit her three times on the head with a hammer before he allegedly raped her,' Thabana said in a statement on Monday. The woman, who was allegedly struck three times, sustained severe injuries to the head and was taken to a local hospital. However, she was subsequently transferred to another hospital in Welkom due to the severity of her injuries. ALSO READ: 'Filthiest perpetrator' handed life in jail for raping 91-year-old woman Investigations continue No arrests have been made yet, but police confiscated a hammer suspected to have been used in the assault. 'Police are urging anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect to contact Warrant Officer Anje Tait of the Welkom [FSC] on 083 279 3213, or Crime Stop 08600 10111 or, alternatively, an anonymous tip-off may be sent through the MySAPS App. More than 180 suspects arrested for rape in one week The incident comes just one day after the South African Police Service announced that 183 suspects were arrested for rape across the country over the past week. Out of the 183 suspects arrested, 67 were wanted individuals who were tracked down in different parts of the country. Police spokesperson, Amanda van Wyk, said this is one of the operations that are aimed at intensifying the police's efforts in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide. NOW READ: KZN man gets life term and more for raping and robbing elderly kin
IOL News
16-07-2025
- IOL News
Women care workers face court over alleged elder abuse in Welkom
Six caregivers are brought to justice for their alleged mistreatment of a vulnerable resident in a retirement centre. Six women, once trusted caregivers, now stand accused of abusing an elderly woman. They appeared in the Welkom Magistrate's Court for alleged assault. Police spokesperson, Sergeant Palesa Thabana, said the incident occurred on July 7, where an 81-year-old elderly woman residing at a retirement care centre in Dagbreek, Welkom, was allegedly assaulted and badly injured by the caregivers of the facility. According to Thabana, a complainant known to the police alleged that Lynnette Brummer, the manager of the retirement centre, called to say the elderly woman was refusing her medication. However, upon arriving at the facility, the complainant found the victim with visible injuries and blood on her face, hands, and arms. "The victim had blood and visible injuries on the face, hands, and arms. She was allegedly discovered to be under extremely wet and cold conditions." Thabana added that police found a roll of black duct tape at the scene, stained with blood, which was allegedly used to restrain the elderly woman. "It was revealed how the employees of the retirement village badly handled the victim. Investigations revealed how the victim's hands and neck were tied with duct tape and her face covered. Police confiscated a roll of black duct tape as well as pieces of duct tape with traces of blood on them," she added. Thabana revealed that police swiftly apprehended four of the six women on July 9, charging them with serious offences including attempted murder, assault with grievous bodily harm, kidnapping, and violations of the Older Persons Act. The final two suspects were arrested days later. "Further investigations led to the arrests of Ntswaki Mofolo (30) and Puseletso Moloi (33) on Monday, 14 July 2025. They made their first court appearance on July 15 in the same court. They are facing charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) and contravening Act 13 of 2006 of the Older Persons Act," she said. All six suspects — Anna Fourie (73), Lynette Brummer (64), Mapaseka Majorobella (35), Nomsa Ngcongwane (55), Ntswaki Mofolo (30), and Puseletso Moloi (33) — remain in custody. The case is set to resume today, 16 July, in the Welkom Magistrate's Court. The Star
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- The Citizen
Odendaalsrus shoot-out leaves 2 dead, suspect due in court
A 37-year-old man is expected to appear in the Odendaalsrus Magistrate's Court today after he was arrested by Free State police following a shoot-out in Odendaalsrus. Bloemfontein Courant reports that two men were fatally shot. According to Free State police spokesperson Palesa Thabana, an argument broke out between the victims and the suspect. 'Upon arrival at the scene, members discovered two African males lying motionless with gunshot wounds in their chests. It is alleged that an argument ensued between the two victims and the suspect before the alleged shooting. The two men were declared dead on the scene,' Thabana says. Police are yet to establish the motive for the killing. The suspect will face murder charges. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
