Rampant violent crime: Mahalapye’s ever nightmare

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.