GANGSTERS’ PARADISE
Ghost town Selebi Phikwe now a scary hub of violent crimes
Police and residents of Selebi Phikwe are living on the edge as crime in the town has become too violent to bear. Reports in recent days indicate that the almost deserted town that used to boast of an economy supported by copper mining activities is now a hub of violent criminal activities that have landed many at hospitals and left others traumatised with emotional scars that will take long to heal.
Just this pat weekend, a woman narrowly escaped death in the Botshabelo Phase 4 location, after an intruder demanded money, hacked her head with a slasher and walked away with P1200.
Confirming the incident, Botshabelo station commander Superintendent Debbie Mdabuli said the unknown intruder found the woman in her home and attacked her.
He demanded money from her and continued to injure her in the process. The victim sustained a cut in the head but was fortunate that the cut was not deep. She was hospitalised for a few days and released early this week.
In another separate incident that happened a day later, four armed criminals attacked a family and robbed them P500 in Botshabelo. A scuffle ensued inside the house and neighbours informed the police. Three of the four men were arrested. “Our investigations are still ongoing. We are looking for the other suspect that escaped. Prior to the home invasion cases that happened this past weekend, we had cases where people were robbed of their cell phones and some of the arrested men are linked to the cell phone cases,” Mdabuli said.
She added that some of the stolen phones have already been found by the police. Mdabuli warns members of the public to be vigilant as Christmas holidays are fast approaching, adding that criminals are seemingly targeting homes. Selibe Phikwe station commander Superintendent Goitsemang Sekgabo said that in his policing area, a 39-year-old woman was raped and robbed P1300 a fortnight ago. The woman was raped when she told the intruder that she had no money on her. After raping her, the man took her car keys and began searching inside the car. He found the money and immediately fled. A week ago, a South African man was robbed of valuables worth P90 000 by five armed men. These include cell phones, laptop, two guns (a shotgun and a pellet gun). In a separate incident, an 85-year-old and his friend were attacked while sleeping and robbed of phones and cash amounting to P16 000. “The thieves did not know that the old man had money in his jacket, when they picked the jacket with intentions of stealing it, they were clueless on what was inside the pockets, we believe they only realised after fleeing that there was money inside it,” Sekgabo said. The Police have not established if the men who were arrested in Botshabelo are linked to the home invasion cases they have been experiencing. Further, they have not arrested any suspects in all three cases.