North West Premier Thandi Modise has called for the parole granted to a man arrested in connection with the for rape a 92-year-old granny in Mmakau to be revoked. In welcoming the arrest of the 29-year-old man who was reportedly seen by the granny’s grandson leaving the granny’s house after the attack, Premier Modise reiterated her earlier statement that perpetrators of sexual violence against the vulnerable, particularly elderly women should have no place in society.
“Serial rapists do not deserve bail or parole. The psychological damage and trauma they have put their victims through which in most instances lasts for a lifetime calls for harsher sentences and the chemical castration we are lobbying for where sexual violence offenders are repeat offenders,” stressed Premier Modise who had earlier on Sunday expressed shock and reiterated her call for intensified united action against crime and the scourge of rape.
Modise had said that when the elderly are living in fear of being raped by children old enough to be their grandchildren in some instances, society should stand up to stamp the tide of the scourge of rape and say enough is enough.
The Premier had added that crime was eroding the moral fibre and needs to be fought on all fronts and called on crime prevention structures such as Community Policing Forums, street committees and neighbourhood watch to look into providing elderly women who are staying on their own with whistles which they could blow to alert their neighbourhood of the threat of the scourge of rape and other crimes in their homes.
According to police, the perpetrator had forcefully broken the granny’s front door which was chain locked in order to gain entry and repeatedly raped the woman for three hours on Sunday before fleeing on foot.
Spokesperson for North West Police, Brigadier Thulane Ngubane said that the granny’s grandson, who saw him leave the woman's house after the attack, described what he was wearing to police who subsequently went to the suspect’s place and found the clothes that matched the grandson’s description.
Ngubane said that the suspect was out on parole after he was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for a rape committed in 2006. He was released on parole in 2010. A warrant for his arrest had been issued again in August 2012 but had not been executed as he had been on the run and police had been looking for him after he allegedly attempted to rape another woman in the same village.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate's Court soon to face two charges of rape and one of attempted rape.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele, Spokesperson
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
