35-Year-Old Arrested for Rape and Murder of Grandmother

A 63-year-old woman was brutally raped and murdered in her home, sending shockwaves through the Ga-Marishane hamlet in Limpopo’s Sekhukhune District. The horrific crime has left the rural community reeling, united in grief and outrage over the attack on one of their elders.

Police Apprehend Suspect in Nebo

Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the Limpopo police spokesperson, confirmed that a provincial task team launched an intense manhunt, leading to the suspect’s arrest in Nebo on Thursday. The elderly woman’s body was discovered at her residence earlier this week, bearing signs of a violent assault. Ledwaba stated that the perpetrator was located and taken into custody within 72 hours of the incident. Preliminary reports indicate the victim was sexually assaulted before she was killed.

Community Tips and Evidence Lead to Arrest

Authorities described the act as a horrific, planned crime. Police sources revealed that community members identified the suspect, who was seen loitering near the victim’s home on the night of the murder. Their crucial tips were instrumental in the investigation. Forensic teams also gathered key evidence, including items of the victim’s clothing, which firmly linked the suspect to the crime scene.

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Calls for Justice Intensify

The brutal murder has drawn strong condemnation from local leaders and gender-based violence advocacy groups, who labeled the crime an abomination. Residents gathered outside the Nebo Police Station on Friday, demanding the suspect be denied bail and calling for harsher punishments for perpetrators of sexual violence. A neighbor described the victim as a gentle woman who had lived in the community her entire life, expressing profound sorrow over her violent death.

The suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed pending his first court appearance, is scheduled to face charges of rape and murder at the Nebo Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, denounced the horrific crime and vowed to pursue justice vigorously. She assured the public that the full force of the law would be applied, sending a clear message that such acts will be met with severe consequences. As Ga-Marishane mourns, the incident underscores the persistent struggle against gender-based violence in South Africa’s rural communities.