Fear that son’s murderer could commit suicide
Raped and mutilated wife has had a relapse
ASPECIALISED task team comprising detectives from elite policing units from across the country has been formed to hunt down the killer of a Pretoria University student who also forced three casual workers, at gunpoint, to rape and mutilate his estranged wife.
The nationwide search began late on Tuesday night after the 51year-old Limpopo meat distributor began his violent-crime spree in a rented house.
Because of the nature of the attack on the woman, neither she nor her son, a computer science student, nor her estranged husband can be named.
The attack was launched after the man had lured the woman to his rented house on the pretence of resolving their differences.
Once inside, the workers, apparently held at gunpoint by the suspect, pulled a bag over her head, tied her to the bed and apparently gang-raped her and then mutilated her breasts.
Her son was evidently made to beg for his life before being shot in the head.
He was attacked when he arrived after his stepfather apparently also lured him to the house.
Within minutes of the attack, all four men disappeared.
Police fear that the suspect, a former sheep farmer from Bloemfontein, might commit suicide.
Police and friends of the family have refused to divulge the whereabouts of the victim’s remaining family or of the woman.
Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the task team, comprising detectives from Modimolle, the Limpopo police provincial office and national police headquarters, were working nonstop to track down the suspect and the three other men.
“It is a mammoth task but we are confident of catching the perpetrator.
“We have information which we are following up on and are racing against time to find those behind this.
“Our biggest fear, which we believe is a real possibility, is that the (main) suspect could commit suicide. Another difficulty we are facing is that we do not have information on the identities of the three other men.
“We are canvassing communities to try to find these men, and are appealing to people who may have positive information on the whereabouts of those involved to contact us.
“We are desperate to catch this guy and are doing everything in our power and have alerted all the country’s ports of entry, to which we have distributed his photograph.
“We are also speaking to the suspect’s family and close friends to see if they can assist us.
“While we want communities to assist, we are urging people not to spread rumours, as this wastes valuable time which could otherwise be better used in tracking down those responsible for this crime,” he said.
Speaking about the woman’s medical condition, Mulaudzi said she had had a relapse and was being treated for severe injuries and trauma at an undisclosed hospital.
“The woman’s remaining family members have been placed in a place of safety and will remain there until the suspect is apprehended,” said Mulaudzi.