Lifting of alcohol ban spikes crime in Letlhakane
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Friday July 24, 2020 18:29
In an interview with this publication Letlhakane Station Commander Superintendent, Michael Maphephu raised worry that since the lifting of alcohol ban they have recorded numerous cases of unlawful wounding.
According to Maphephu after the alcohol ban was lifted, people were ordered to drink from their homes for their own safety not for them to be involved in drunken brawls, which lead to traumatic injuries.
He was disappointed because during these social gatherings people do not adhere to social distancing protocols as dictated by COVID-19 protocols.
Maphephu stated that just over the weekend, they registered three cases of unlawful wounding in their policing area.
He said that in one case, which involved youth aged between 20 and 29, who were involved in a drunken brawl ended badly for the victim after being hit by a bottle on her head.
He further said that the misunderstanding took place during a chill session in Mokgobelele ward and it all started when a man (29) inappropriately touched the victim (20).
Maphephu said: “The victim then complained that she did not like the way the assailant touched her and he became pissed and took a bottle and smashed it against her head.”
He added that the young woman bled profusely and was then rushed to the clinic where she was treated and discharged on the same day.
The Station Commander said that they were investigating yet another unlawful wounding case in which a man aged 22 stabbed another man (21) with a sharp instrument during a love triangle fight.
He added that the man sustained injuries but was treated and discharged from the hospital.
He said that the incident took place at a get-together at around 02:35am, and the duo (both victim and suspect) were under the influence of alcohol whilst fighting for a woman.
On a different matter, Maphephu said that during the same weekend they took a 27-year-old man into custody after he was suspected to have raped a 33-year-old woman.
He said that the suspect sexually assaulted the victim after he volunteered to accompany her home from her place of work.
He added: “On their way home, he dragged her to a nearby bush and allegedly forced himself on her.”
Maphephu said that the incident took place in Mosu and encouraged women to avoid traveling at night alone or with strangers.
Meanwhile, the Letlhakane station commander said that they also arrested two men in connection with unlawful possession of dagga on Sunday at around 2pm.
He said that the men were arrested at Makobo veterinary gate after being caught red-handed with five grams of a green substance suspected to be dagga.