By Obakeng Maje

North West police are encouraging everyone to take precautionary measures to safe-guard themselves against consuming anything that is given to them, especially from people they do not know or trust, captain Pelonomi Makau said. 

 

“It has come to the attention of the police that during the festive season, people consume a lot of alcohol and others consume alcohol or soft drinks that has been spiked”.

 

Makau said cases of rape and murder that are reported are mostly of people who visited taverns and leave in the early hours of the morning being drunk. 

 

“They end up being raped and murdered by unknown people. Most of the cases reported are of women and young girls who visit taverns and end up being victims of rape and murder.

 

 

 

Police are also appealing to hitch- hikers who end up being given cold drinks that are suspected to have been mixed with drugs. Victims end up being raped and murdered.

 

“In recent incidents, a woman from Khuma near Stilfontein, is in a critical condition at the hospital after she was allegedly raped, stabbed thirty five times on different parts of her body. The suspects allegedly cut-off her private parts after she was allegedly kidnapped from a nearby mining area” Makau.

 

Another incident happened in Lichtenburg where a 37 year-old woman was found lying near the railway line by the security guard at about 02:00 in the morning.

 

“The woman could not speak and it was realised that she was allegedly raped” she said.

 

Makau said men are also victims of murder. 

 

“Several cases are being reported where men ended-up being murdered after their visits to taverns. It has come to the attention of police that these men carry a lot of cash and leave taverns drunk. They end-up being mugged and murdered by unknown suspects”. 

 

“People should not carry a lot of cash at night and they should walk or drive in company of others”.

 

Police further appeals to the young girls and women not to walk alone especially at night.

 

“Parents are urged to know the whereabouts of their children and play a pivotal role in ensuring that their girl children are safe and protected” concludes Makau.-TDN

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