Middleburg - Police in Mpumalanga have arrested three men in connection with the rape of two woman in separate incidents on the same night near Middelburg earlier this month.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the three suspects, two Mozambican nationals, aged 30 and 39, and a South African, 33, were arrested at the Vaalbank informal settlement on Wednesday night.
The men were due to appear in the Middelburg magistrate’s court on Thursday.
According to police, the rapes took place on the night of December 16 at the off-ramp to Bethal near Middelburg.
“The first incidents occurred at about 8pm where a 27-year-old woman who was hitchhiking with her boyfriend were accosted by three men at gunpoint,” Mohlala said. “They robbed them of their belongings and all the men took turns to rape the woman.
“The other incident involved a 30-year-old pregnant woman who was with her husband and children at the same spot after their vehicle had a breakdown. They were also accosted by three armed men, who robbed them of their belongings and also took turns in raping the pregnant woman.”
Mohlala said police worked tirelessly to make the arrests.
“Both the Mozambicans were also linked to robbery and rape charges which occurred in February this year at Middelburg, where two teenagers were robbed of their scooter and raped.”
ANA