A well-known businessman from Madombidza, Prince Mulalo Ludere (41), allegedly skipped town and, at the time of going to press, was still evading the police.

His disappearance follows the alleged rape of a 31-year-old woman, after he had allegedly first poured paraffin over her face and set her alight. He is now wanted on charges of attempted murder and rape.

According to a police statement, this happened at the end of July at Ludere’s house in Madombidza. Provincial police spokesperson Lt Col Mohale Ramatseba said that the police only learned about the alleged crime last Wednesday. Ludere allegedly threatened to kill the woman.

Ramatseba said that Ludere had allegedly held the woman hostage since July 31 and had only taken her to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital when her burn wounds became infected. She was treated and released. When Ludere threatened to kill her, she escaped and went straight to the police.

Ramatseba said the previous week that the police were confident that an arrest would be made soon. By Tuesday (30 August), however, Ludere was still at large, despite an intensive manhunt by the police. The police urged members of the public with information regarding Ludere´s whereabouts to phone Capt Patrick Makhavhu at 072 803 9007.

In the meantime, the Louis Trichardt Regional Court is also holding a warrant for Ludere´s arrest after he failed to appear in court on July 25 on a charge of the illegal possession of a firearm.

The Zoutpansberger reported on this court case at the beginning of July. Ludere appeared in the Louis Trichardt Regional Court, together with Tsepo Moepi (39) of Seshego, Alfred Nkuna (40) of Mamelodi, Lesetja Reuben Moloto (39) of Polokwane, Christopher Maleka of Polokwane and Jeffrey Nnkwamato Maphala (45), also of Mamelodi.

Their appearance follows Moepi and Nkuna’s arrest in December last year. According to information, the two were arrested after local police received a tip-off regarding a planned robbery. This led to the pair’s arrest near Eltivillas on December 28 last year. When the police searched the vehicle they were driving, they found two unlicensed 9mm pistols.

Moepi and Nkuna implicated their co-accused, who was subsequently arrested. All of them were released on bail and their case was postponed until July 25. It was during this court appearance that Maphala and Ludere failed to appear in court “due to medical reasons.” Warrants for their arrest were issued but held over by the court to give them time to hand in a doctor’s certificate as proof that they were sick.

All six men’s cases were postponed until September, 19.

Ludere’s is currently out on medical parole, following a previous conviction. He was also arrested as a suspect in 2007 in connection with the daring daytime armed robbery at the Khoja’s Modern Store in 2005. The case was later withdrawn against him, due to a lack of evidence. During the robbery, Mr Ghelani was brutally gunned down and his 84-year-old father, Mr Baboo Mohanial Ghelani, was wounded.