Parolee arrested for allegedly raping elderly mentally challenged woman

Police in Limpopo have arrested a 33-year-old male parolee for allegedly raping a 78-year-old mentally challenged woman near Lebowakgomo‚ south-east of Polokwane.

Members of police were conducting a routine crime prevention patrol on Friday night when they received a report that community members had "accosted" the suspect who was allegedly caught raping the woman who had been sleeping in her house.

“The police reacted swiftly‚ arrested the suspect and the victim was immediately conveyed to the hospital for medical attention.

"This suspect‚ who was on parole after he was previously sentenced for rape‚ will appear before the Sekhukhune Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a charge of rape‚” police said.

Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba said: "I want to take this opportunity to commend members of the community in that area who acted so promptly and rescued this victim and by also apprehending this criminal and handed him over to the police unharmed.

"This is a job well done and I hope that communities from other areas in the province will copy this excellent behaviour by these villagers in the positive spirit of community policing.”