Bhityi is one of the policing precincts in the OR Tambo District that is receiving members from Public Order Policing Unit to curb incidents of house robberies, which are mostly targeting vulnerable people in areas such as Mqhekezweni Location.
Police Senior Management have since deployed members from Public Order Policing Unit, and other specialised units, after establishing that criminal elements, are targeting certain houses in rural areas, and subsequently sexually assaulting the victims.
The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) that is investigating some of these sexual assault cases has since arrested a 27-year-old man, who is linked in two rape cases from Mqhekezweni Location, the first one was committed in April 2023 and the other in June 2023. The suspect was charged and he had since appeared in the Bhityi Magistrate’s Court on several occasions and is currently in custody. His next court date is Thursday, 24 August 2023.
In other sexual offences cases, DNA were collected and sent to the forensic laboratory for analysis and possible linkages. On completion of the investigation process, we expect to link and arrest more suspects. However, there are no cases of extortion that were ever reported in the Bhityi Policing Precinct, where victims are said to be forced to pay a certain fee for their protection.
Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene said, “I have deployed POPS and other specialised units to assist in Bhityi and other policing precincts in the OR Tambo District. I am confident that we are going to arrest those opportunistic criminal elements that are troubling our communities. We remain steadfast and committed to decisively deal with crime and criminals within this Province. With more boots on the ground, we are determined to reduce the serious and violent crimes that are plaguing our societies. With the ongoing Operation Shanela, our main focus is on targeting identified crime hot-spot areas. We are definitely going to respond, and surely our response is going to be decisive “, added Lt Gen Mene.
Source: South African Police Service