'Behave like human beings'
2008-03-26 20:20
Nelspruit - Forty-two rape cases were reported in Mpumalanga at the Easter weekend, said police on Wednesday.
Captain Leonard Hlathi said that, of the reported rapes, 18 were of minors and six were gang rapes.
In one case, a nine-year-old girl was woken by a man at 03:00 at her home.
"A man known to her pointed a gun at the girl and instructed her not to shout. He led her out of the house and met up with his accomplice at the gate. They both took the girl to nearby trees," said Hlathi.
They raped the girl and then took her back to the house.
In another incident, a 84-year-old woman was raped by a man known to her in Fosman in Witbank.
"The elderly woman's grandson returned home from church at 04:00 to find a man known to them raping his grandmother," said Hlathi.
No arrests have been made.
Police appealed to men to "behave like human beings" and stop abusing women and children, said Hlathi.
- SAPA