Zimoja updates on the latest crime news in parts of the country:

FREE STATE: Police have launched a manhunt for a taxi driver believed to be involved in a rape that occurred on 5 August 2024 in Odendaalsrus in the Free State. The 25-year-old woman was taking a taxi from the taxi rank to her home in K5 Section at about 20:30.

While the taxi was traveling, the driver requested to fetch his girlfriend at the crossing of the K6 Section of Kutloanong but to her surprise, he went in the direction of Welkom. When she asked him, he became aggressive took out a stinking cloth and forced to smell it. She passed out and when she regained consciousness, she realised that she had been raped. The suspect is unknown at this stage,and a case of rape was registered for further investigation.

EASTERN CAPE: Two suspects were shot and wounded during a home invasion on Tuesday evening in Richmond Hill in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.

At approximately 20:40, in Lutman Street, Richmond Hill, the complainant (73) was sleeping when he heard a noise that woke him up. The complainant had his firearm with him when he went to investigate. He noticed three suspects inside the house in the passage approaching him.  

The complainant fired two shots at the suspects, two suspects were wounded and one suspect fled the scene. Due to the quick response of a private security company and Metro police, the two wounded suspects aged 31 and 37 were apprehended. It was later established that the suspects gained entrance to the property by removing a window at the front bedroom. Nothing was taken from the property and the complainant did not sustain any injuries during the incident.Both suspects are currently under police guard in hospital, where they are being treated for the gunshot wounds.  

KWAZULU NATAL: Three suspects aged between 24 and 60 have been arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition by the Newcastle Police.

In the early hours of Wednesday, an intelligence driven operation was conducted at Mazabeko area on an information of a wanted suspect in a case of murder that occurred under Nhlanhleni policing precinct last week. On arrival at the identified location, the wanted suspect was not found but two suspects were arrested after being found in possession of one pistol and ammunition each.

The operation further proceeded to the next target in the same area where on arrival one suspect was arrested after being found in possession of an unlicensed pistol with ammunition. 

KWAZULU NATAL: A 57 year old man accused of sodomising several minor boys was apprehended and beaten by the community of Waterloo - outside Durban KZN on Tuesday afternoon. Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) were called to rescue the man from residents. The man was stripped of his pants and underwear. The crowd was threatening to castrate him. It was established that the accused is a resident of Parkgate and employed by the Ethekwini Municipality. He coaches soccer and conducts Bible studies with minor boys from Waterloo in his spare time. 

One of the boys informed his parents on Tuesday that the man drugged and raped him. His parents brought it to the attention of other residents who questioned their children. Four other boys aged between 10 and 13 also confirmed that they were victims of the paedophile. They stated that they were afraid to inform their parents because the suspect threatened to murder their families if they sought any assistance. 

The children informed female RUSA Members that the man had been sodomising them for approximately one year. He would escort them individually or in groups to his house where he would drug and rape them.