Siyabuswa - Police are very concerned about the number of incidents which occurred as a result of hitch-hiking. Lately they responded to a number of complaints around Mpumalanga where people were offered lifts which they accepted and were then raped. Other hitch-hikers were drugged and robbed of their belongings. The victims were mainly women.

Recently a 33-year-old woman who was hitch-hiking from Marble Hall to Siyabuswa was raped by three men. On Saturday, September 17, the woman was reportedly offered a lift in a white vehicle with four occupants - three men and a woman. When they were about to reach the RDP houses of Maganagoboswa at Siyabuswa, the driver stopped near the bushes.

One of the suspects took out a firearm and handed it to the woman whom they were travelling with to stand guard the three men took turns raping the victim. No one has yet been arrested.

Once again police urge community members to utilise public transport rather than hitch-hiking. This will assist in reducing and/or preventing the number of such incidents.

Police further appealed to any person who might have information about the incident to contact the Siyabuswa Police at 013-973-1301 / 1942 or call Crime Stop on 08600-10111.

Submitted by: Sgt Sedibe /Corporate Communication / South African Police Service, Mpumalanga Provincial Enquiries: Brigadier Leonard Hlathi on 082-462-0804
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