The Limpopo police arrested an elderly male suspect following the DNA outcomes linked him with rape incident occurred on January last year in Lebowakgomo.
The South African Police Service(SAPS) in Limpopo confirmed that the members of Lebowakgomo Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexually Offences(FCS) arrested a 62-year-old male suspect in connection with a rape of a 37-year-old female victim last year on 13 January 2025.
The police revealed that the suspect threatened the victim with the knife before raping her and took her cellphone.
Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said: "At about 11:30, a 37-year-old female victim was walking at Makotse village, near Mosepedi School when she was threatened with a knife, assaulted and raped by an unknown male suspect who further robbed her a cellphone following the incident.
“In addition, an elderly male suspect allegedly committed rape the previous day on 12 January 2025 while at Motantanyane village. The suspect was arrested for the offence the next day at about 19:50 after raping a 37-year-old female victim at Makotse village during the day.”
Brigadier Mashaba mentioned that the suspect was arrested last year but was given a bail and relocated to Mokopane where he was working as a security guard while the police were waiting DNA results which came back positive.
"During the arrest, he was found in possession of a firearm which was confiscated by the police.
"He appeared in court and was later granted bail and relocated to Mokopane policing area and worked as a security guard at a brickyard owned by a family member.
“Upon further investigations and DNA forensic analysis involving rape of a 37-year-old female victim, an elderly male who was unknown during the incident was subsequently positively linked with the offence,” added Mashaba.
According to Brigadier Mashaba, on Wednesday, 07 January 2026, Lebowakgomo FCS conducted an operation and successfully managed to trace and locate the suspect who was eventually arrested at Mokopane policing area.
The suspect will appear before the Thabamoopo Magistrate Court on Friday, 09 January 2026 facing a charge of rape, Mashaba concluded.