Vukani residents say they feel terrified in their own homes, following a series of violent incidents linked to a group of thugs.
Vukani residents say they feel terrified in their own homes, following a series of violent incidents linked to a group of thugs.
Their reign of terror culminated in a horrific scene last Saturday 14 September in which a woman was raped and bludgeoned to death in front of children.
Local police were lauded by the provincial police commissioner after their swift action led to the arrests of four men linked to the murder, rape and robbery.
Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Celiwe Binta said, "This will also send a strong message to criminals that we mean business and we will bring those to book who choose to attack innocent victims in their homes."
Police arrested four suspects aged 22, 23, 34 and 44, hours after the woman in her 30s was raped and murdered around 2am last Saturday.
Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said they were investigating several charges including housebreaking, rape, murder and attempted murder.
Govender said the Vukani woman and four girls aged between 8 and 19 were awoken by unknown intruders who demanded money. "After getting no money from the elder victim, they beat her with a hammer, raped and strangled her. They also stabbed the 15-year-old in the head and bound her hands and left her in the toilet," Govender said.
The woman's 15-year-old niece, her 11-year-old daughter and her 8-year-old friend escaped unharmed, but were severely traumatised, police said. The men fled with a TV, DVD player, speakers and cellphones.
Around 6am, the woman's niece managed to get to a neighbour and ask for help.
Grahamstown cluster commander Brigadier Vakala Moyake expressed shock at the "heinous crime". He said the young victims were receiving medical treatment, adding that they would help the survivors.
"At this stage, we believe that the motive for this attack was robbery," Moyake said.
Speaking to members of the community, Grocott's Mail heard that these men, whom they describe as criminals, are known to often break into people's houses, provoke residents and carry dangerous weapons in local taverns.
Some accused the group of being drug addicts who have robbed many children of their cellphones and belongings, even in broad daylight.
One woman who spoke on condition of anonymity said angry Vukani residents had chased some of her relatives away for allegedly committing a crime. Somehow these thugs didn't get the same treatment, she complained.
"Something must be done to these criminals as well. We've lost our family members through community eviction and now there's no follow-up with these criminals," she said. "It is very unfair to us. Justice must be served equally."
Govender said the identification parade was to be held on Thursday 19 September.
The four men made their brief first appearance in the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court earlier this week and the case was postponed to 23 September for a formal bail application.
Correctional services provincial spokesperson Zama Feni said they hadn't received any complaints from members of the public regarding prisoners committing crimes while still serving parole sentences.
He said they'd heard about problems related to parolees, but he was not aware of any formal complaints.
