Limpopo Premier Poppy Ramathuba has confirmed that a 27-year-old suspect has been arrested following the abduction and rape of two nurses last week at Ga-Chuene village in the Capricorn District.
It was reported that armed men stormed the clinic in the early hours of 10 January, overpowered the security guards and tied them up before abducting two nurses on duty.
Ramathuba announced at a media briefing on Sunday.
“Through the dedicated efforts of our multi-disciplinary team of law enforcement officers, a suspect linked to this heinous crime has been arrested.
Acting on credible information, the team was able to move swiftly to Feke village in Ga-Maja.
During the arrest police recovered amongst others, a 9mm pistol reported to be stolen along with nine live ammunition,” said Ramathuba.
The clinic has been closed since the incident and Ramathuba said it might resume its operations but not after hours.
“The monster is now arrested.
We can now start to find a way on how this clinic will start to operate.
But I can’t promise that this clinic will start working 24 hours as soon as tomorrow (Monday),” explained Ramathuba.
According to the premier, the two nurses are still traumatized and will not agree to work at that clinic again.
In addition, Ramathuba said she has instructed the Department of Health to investigate the security company working at the clinic.
“I have already directed the HOD and the MEC for Health to make sure that a thorough investigation is done on the security company.
You can’t have three security guards being overpowered by an individual.
Yes, we understand that he was carrying a gun, what is frustrating is that he took our female nurses and left one female security guard who was not handcuffed, who had an opportunity to call the police or the matron of the clinic but failed to do that,” remarked the Premier.
Ramathuba highlighted that more arrests are anticipated, and that the suspect, who is not a first-time offender, will appear in court soon.