GIYANI – The police in the Lowveld area are investigating several criminal cases following incidents that took place in the area during the past week.

The body of a 35-year-old woman, Saina Mnisi was found dumped in the bushes at the Mapikiri village near Phalaborwa last Friday morning. According to the spokesperson of the police in the area, Insp Moatshe Ngoepe, the deceased was walking alone on the footpath from her place of work, Makhushane village when the incident took place.

Along the way she met an unknown man who raped her and later strangled her to death before he vanished in the surrounding bushes.

The police have opened a case of murder and another one for rape in connection with the incident. No arrest has been made at the time of going to the press.

In another incident a 45-year-old man of Morudje Village near Tzaneen was shot and wounded by five unknown men while watching TV at his home. The incident took place at Marudje village last Thursday, February 21 at about 23:00.

According to the police statement the five men opened fire on the men through the window. He fell down and the culprits jumped into the house through the window.

They were all convinced that the man was dead and they stole R250 cash from his pocket. They then raped his 40-year-old wife and his 20- year-old daughter in full view of each other throughout the night, and vanished in the bushes early in the morning.

The man was still in a critical condition in the local hospital at the time of going to the press. The police have appealed to the people who have information regarding the incident to contact them at 015-3062120 or 015-3062129.