BITYI — The South African Police Service (SAPS) has announced a reward of up to R50,000 for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of suspects involved in a violent attack on schoolgirls in the Eastern Cape.
The incident occurred at Khonqeni locality in Xhongorha A/A, Bityi, where eight schoolgirls were asleep in a rondavel hut. According to police reports, two unknown men forced entry into the dwelling during the early hours of the morning. The suspects proceeded to rob the group of their cellular phones before raping five of the girls, who are aged between 20 and 25 years.
The Office of the Provincial Commissioner in the Eastern Cape released the reward offer in a bid to break the deadlock in the investigation. The brutal nature of the crime has placed significant pressure on local law enforcement to secure an arrest and ensure the safety of students in the rural locality.
The Family Violence, Child Protection, Sexual Offences and Femicide (FCS) Unit has taken over the investigation. Detectives are seeking any leads that could identify the two men responsible for the forced entry and subsequent sexual assaults.
The R50,000 incentive is part of a broader strategy by SAPS to encourage community members to come forward with information that often remains undisclosed due to fear of retaliation.
Authorities have urged anyone with knowledge of the event or the suspects’ whereabouts to contact Captain Nomanjila or Sergeant Danisa at the FCS Unit. Alternatively, information can be shared anonymously via the Crime Stop hotline.
Anyone with additional information relating to this story can contact us through email press@townpress.co.za.
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