'Tidal wave' of crime in Mpuma
2008-06-18 20:23
Nelspruit - Nearly 80 rapes, murders and attempted rapes and murders were reported in Mpumalanga over the long weekend.
Altogether 74 crime dockets were opened between June 14 and June 17, Mpumalanga police spokesperson Captain Leonard Hlathi said on Wednesday.
"This behaviour is uncalled for," he said. "We call on all the community to unite against this tidal wave of crime."
He said 11 people were killed in separate incidents, 10 of whom were killed on June 14.
The victims included a newborn baby boy whose mother dumped him in a pit toilet and a 10-month-old baby whose mother suffocated him to death.
Police also opened 20 child rape dockets. The youngest victim was one year old.
Another 27 rape cases were reported by women, while 10 reported attempted rapes.
There were also six reports of attempted murders.
Hlathi said police had arrested only 12 suspects in connection with the cases.