Rampant violent crime: Mahalapye’s ever nightmare
Pini Bothoko | Monday August 11, 2025 11:29
In what police describe as a disturbing trend, Mahalapye continues to be haunted by a wave of violent crimes, with the Mahalapye-Central Police Station recording 29 rape cases and six murders since the beginning of the year. The statistics spark fear that the village may be under siege by a serial rapist (s) or a coordinated group targeting vulnerable women as the police struggle to contain the scourge.
According to the police, many of the sexual violence cases involve victims who were attacked by men they had spent time with at entertainment spots or by former lovers. However, other cases are far more sinister as women are raped while walking alone at night or even attacked in the supposed safety of their homes.
The latest case that sent shockwaves through the community involves a 32-year-old woman from Konyana ward who was allegedly raped by her 39-year-old adopted brother.
Mahalapye-Central Police Station commander, Superintendent Meshack Ranku, detailed the disturbing incident to Mmegi.
'The two live together in the same house. On the night of the incident, they went to separate rooms to sleep. Later that night, the victim awoke to find the suspect in her room. He instructed her not to scream, then proceeded to rape her. The victim has since reported the matter to the police and was taken to Mahalapye Hospital for medical examination, while the suspect has been arrested and is currently in police custody while investigations continue, ' Ranku said.
Ranku expressed deep concern about the rising cases of rape in his policing area, revealing that he had recorded 29 rape cases from January to date.
“This suggests a very disturbing pattern. Despite our community outreach efforts to educate the public, especially men, about rape and murder, these crimes persist,” he said.
Ranku added that perpetrators in both rape and murder cases are predominantly men. Many rape incidents, he said, occur when men who have spent time drinking with women later demand sex and in some instances, accuse their victims of extortion. Some rape cases are committed by jilted ex-lovers who refuse to accept the end of a relationship.
“Men need to understand and respect women’s rights. ‘No means no.’ If a woman no longer wants to be in a relationship, you must respect her decision. Violating her body and rights is not only wrong but a criminal act that destroys lives. The consequences of rape are devastating, leaving emotional and psychological scars that linger long after the physical wounds have healed,” he said.
In addition to the high number of rape cases, Mahalapye has recorded six murder cases since January, many of which stemmed from disputes over seemingly petty issues.
“Most of these murders are committed by men who carry offensive weapons, particularly knives. What we are seeing is a society that is angry, violent, and impulsive. These murders often happen during minor disagreements that could have been resolved peacefully,” Ranku noted.
He described the violence as a clear reflection of a deeper societal problem, where aggression and dominance have become normalised responses to conflict.
Despite the challenges, the police continue to hold community meetings to raise awareness and promote behavioral change. But Ranku admits they are struggling to reach the very individuals responsible for these crimes.
“Our efforts are falling on deaf ears. We are trying, but it seems like the message is not getting through as violent crimes continue to spiral out of control. With women who are attacked and raped while walking alone or pounced on and attacked in their sleep and raped, we suspect that there might be a rapist or rapists on the loose because we have not arrested anyone unless in cases where victims were raped by the people, they were familiar with,” he said.
However, for now, the plea from the police is clear: men must be held accountable, and communities must come together to denounce gender-based violence and restore peace in Mahalapye.