Man arrested for raping 91-year-old woman after breaking into her home
Police arrested a suspect in Mpumalanga, in connection with the rape of a 91-year-old woman.
Image: File
A man has been arrested by the police at Schoemansdal, in Mpumalanga, in connection with the rape of a 91-year-old woman.
Earlier, police had announced a manhunt for the man who allegedly raped the nonagenarian.
“The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday, 17 May 2025, at approximately 10 pm in Driekoppies near Schoemansdal,” said Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane.
“According to the information, the elderly victim was at home watching television with her daughter. The daughter reportedly left for church around 9 pm and ensured all the doors were locked.”
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At around 10 pm, while the victim was sitting on her bed, taking medication, a man entered her bedroom holding a knife.
The shocked elderly woman recognised the intruder as her neighbour’s son.
“When she tried to speak to him, he allegedly pushed her onto the bed and instructed her to keep quiet while threatening her with the knife. The suspect then allegedly raped her and fled the scene through a window,” said Ndubane.
When the daughter returned home later that evening, the victim informed her about the ordeal.
Upon inspection, the daughter discovered that the lounge window of their home had been forced open, indicating the suspect’s point of entry.
The raped woman was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
“A case of rape was opened and members of the family violence, child protection and sexual offences (FCS) unit are currently investigating,” said Ndubane.
Meanwhile, acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, has appealed to community members to remain calm and allow the law to take its course.
Police have arrested a man accused of raping a 91-year-old woman in Mpumalanga.
Image: File
Last year, IOL reported that the Groblersdal Regional Court in Limpopo sentenced a 35-year-old rapist to life imprisonment after he was convicted of raping and assaulting a 90-year-old woman.
The court heard that on July 31, 2022, Ephraim Matshela Madiba broke into the house of the elderly woman at Elandskraal and found a panga in the victim’s bedroom.
“He assaulted her with it before raping her. He thereafter fled the scene with the said panga,” Limpopo provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said at the time.
Police were alerted about the incident, they opened cases of rape and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
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