On New Year’s Eve the community of Shuping Informal Settlement in Batho Location just outside Bloemfontein effected an arrest that solved a number of cases opened against a 24-year-old suspect, Sanele Zweni.
Sanele appeared in Bloemfontein Magistrate court for the rape of a 14-year-old girl after threatening her with a firearm in his shack dwelling on Monday 3 December 2022.
Members of the community who were alerted of the rape incident that happened in their area on Saturday 25 December 2021 spotted the suspect walking into one of the yards and they quickly cornered him. They then called Batho Police Station and informed the police that they arrested the 24-year-old suspect.
The police rushed to the scene and detained Sanele for rape on Friday 31 December 2021.
Before the arrest, the investigation team followed information of the firearm that the suspect had used to threaten the victim during the rape ordeal. They visited his shack on Monday 27 December 2021 as informed by the victim and found a Girsane 9mm Parabellum pistol with empty magazine during the search.
The firearm was tested and came out as circulated ‘stolen’ during an armed robbery that happened on Wednesday 15 December 2021.
Sanele and another African male had robbed the truck driver of the firearm and an undisclosed amount of money in Matlala Street, Batho Location under gunpoint.
The driver opened a case of armed robbery at the station.
On Thursday 23 December 2021 Sanele is also said to have robbed two victims in African Street at about 02:00, shooting one of them on the chest before running away with their cellphones. A case of attempted murder and robbery were again opened at Batho Police Station.
Sanele Zweni is currently in custody and is still to appear before court for all other cases that were opened against him.
