Police in Limpopo have launched an urgent manhunt for a 34-year-old man believed to be linked to two harrowing rape cases involving minor girls in the Sekhukhune District. Bonginkosi Kgopotso Mazibuko is the subject of an intensive search, with authorities appealing to the public for any information that could lead to his arrest.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that the Burgersfort Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit is leading the investigation and considers Mazibuko's presence crucial to progressing the case.
The incidents, which occurred in separate locations within the Mecklenburg policing area, have left the community deeply concerned. The victims, aged 17 and 12, were both targeted while on their way to school.
The first incident took place on 24 October 2022. According to Colonel Malesela Ledwaba of the SAPS, the 17-year-old victim was walking to school when a silver Volkswagen Polo, bearing unknown registration numbers, stopped in front of her. The occupant allegedly brandished a firearm, forcing the terrified teenager into the vehicle.
The young girl was then driven to a secluded area in Ga-Mathipa village. There, the suspect allegedly ordered her to undress, took photographs of her, and subjected her to a brutal rape inside the car. After the horrific ordeal, she was dropped off at a main road. Fortunately, a passing motorist came to her aid, and she was able to report the crime to her grandmother, who immediately alerted the police.
Tragically, a similar incident occurred on 18 November 2024. Police reports indicate that the suspect allegedly employed the same modus operandi to rape a 12-year-old girl in the same policing area. Like the first victim, the child was on her way to school when she was allegedly confronted by the suspect. He allegedly threatened her with a firearm, forced her into a silver Volkswagen Polo, and drove her to bushes near a local mine, where she was raped inside the vehicle.
Following the assault, the 12-year-old was dropped near the school premises. A rape case was immediately opened, triggering an intensive investigation by local authorities.
Police have confirmed that forensic DNA analysis has positively linked the suspect to both cases. This crucial evidence has strengthened the case against Mazibuko and intensified efforts to bring him to justice.
Currently, a massive manhunt is underway. Authorities believe that Mazibuko may be residing in Mkhuhlu, which falls under the Calcutta policing area in Mpumalanga. Law enforcement agencies are coordinating their efforts across provincial borders to locate and apprehend the suspect.
The SAPS is urging anyone with information that could assist in the investigation to come forward. Sergeant Letsatsi Mojalefa, the investigating officer, can be contacted directly on 076 140 5379. Alternatively, individuals can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111, visit their nearest police station, or submit tips via the MySAPS App.
The police have assured the public that all information received will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. They are appealing to the community to assist in bringing the perpetrator to justice and ensuring the safety of young girls in the Sekhukhune District.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are committed to pursuing all leads to ensure that Bonginkosi Kgopotso Mazibuko is apprehended and faces the full might of the law. The SAPS has reiterated its commitment to protecting vulnerable members of society and ensuring that perpetrators of such heinous crimes are brought to justice.
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