KEY POINTS
- Four female students were raped at gunpoint in their hostel at Tlharihani TVET College in Limpopo on February 22, 2025, with the suspect also robbing the victims of their belongings.
- Police are actively searching for the suspect, described as wearing a black balaclava and armed with a firearm, and have vowed to use all resources to apprehend him.
- The incident has sparked outrage and calls for improved security at educational institutions, as well as renewed efforts to address gender-based violence in South Africa.
In an incident that has left the community of Bolobedu in Limpopo, in shock, four female students were raped at gunpoint in their college hostel, Tlharihani TVET College, on the evening of February 22, 2025.
The attack, which took place at Tlharihani TVET College in Mamaila village, has sparked outrage and fear among students and residents alike.
According to Sowetanlive, Police are currently on a manhunt for the suspect, who remains at large after also robbing the victims of their belongings.
According to Lt-Col Stephen Thakeng, the ordeal began when a 20-year-old student left her dormitory to fetch water outside. She was suddenly cornered by an armed man, prompting her to scream for help.
“She screamed, and then another female, aged 21, saw an unknown male wearing a black balaclava, black jersey, blue jeans, black gloves, white sneakers, and pointing a firearm,” Thakeng recounted. The suspect, described as a lone attacker, then forced his way into the hostel, where he confronted eight female students.
“The eight female students were instructed to undress, and four of them, aged 20 and 21 years old, were raped,” Thakeng stated. The victims were also robbed of their cellphones and other personal items before the suspect fled the scene on foot.
The incident in Tlharihani TVET College has raised serious concerns about the safety and security of students at the college, with many calling for increased measures to prevent such attacks in the future.
Manhunt for the suspects begin
Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe, the provincial police commissioner, has directed law enforcement to use all available resources to track down the suspect.
“We are treating this case with the utmost urgency and will not rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice,” Hadebe said. The suspect is wanted on four counts of rape and robbery, and police have urged anyone with information to come forward.
The attack has also drawn attention to the broader issue of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, a country that continues to grapple with high rates of sexual assault and femicide.
Advocacy groups have called for stronger action to protect women and girls, particularly in educational institutions. “This is not an isolated incident. It is a reflection of a deeper societal crisis that requires immediate and sustained intervention,” said a spokesperson for the #EndGBV movement.
