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CLOSED FOR BUSINESS: A tavern in Ntsako village near Letsitele in Limpopo where the owner allegedly shot and killed two people and injured four others who were forcing her to sell alcohol to minors. PHOTO: ELIJAR MUSHIANA

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The boys had apparently been drinking at a local tavern despite being under-age.

Police said they would seek to revoke the tavern's licence for selling alcohol to minor children.

According to police spokesman, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, six boys who were drinking at a tavern in Ngwamitwa on Saturday allegedly took turns in raping the girl for nine hours.

The village is in Letsitele, ironically the same area where a female tavern owner was attacked and her husband killed by angry villagers who accused her of refusing to sell liquor to minors.

Christina Shingange, 50, shot and killed two women during a protest at her tavern in Nsako village three weeks ago. Her husband, Bethuel Nganyane, 58, was attacked and set alight when he went to salvage items that were left inside the tavern day after the shooting.

Police arrested 61 people in connection with the killing but all have been released on warning, bar one person who is alleged to have been the mastermind of the attacks.

Mulaudzi said the Ngwamitwa girl was attacked while in the company of a male friend when they were joined by five other boys. She was dragged into an empty house where she was repeatedly raped.

"The victim was raped from 7pm until 4am on Sunday," said Mulaudzi. She eventually escaped through a window and alerted a passerby, who called the police.

"An intensive search was launched and five of the suspects were arrested immediately. The sixth suspect was arrested on Sunday night," Mulaudzi said.

The boys were aged between 15 and 17.

The girl, Mulaudzi said, was taken to a local hospital for medical tests.

"Our investigation had revealed that the perpetrators were seen drinking alcohol at the tavern.

"The case has necessitated a review by us (police) and the Liquor Board to permanently close the business for violating the Liquor Act by allegedly selling liquor to minors," Mulaudzi added.

He said they were investigating six counts of rape and that the boys would appear in the Ritavi Magistrates' Court soon.

Meanwhile, Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant-General Simon Mpembe, has condemned in the strongest possible terms the gang-rape of the girl.

"The scourge of rape in Limpopo has reached unacceptable levels.

"This despicable crime does not belong to our free and democratic society," said Mpembe.

He said parents should be worried when the scourge of sexual offences against women touched infants, toddlers and young girls.

"In addition to the painful ordeal of rape the girl was forced to endure, the victim is now subjected to a second assault on her dignity," he said.

- frankm@sowetan.co.za

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Tue May 21 22:18:26 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 3, 2012

CYBORICO

this can only happen... u know where. this mense is nie ver from ape behaviour
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Jul 3, 2012

Louloubaby

village idiots
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Jul 3, 2012

maneater

Lord help us!!!
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Jul 3, 2012

Stumaeza

They deserve to rot in jail
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Jul 3, 2012

MicaParis

News like this are very disturbing, did not we have enough of this kind of madness. Strictly idiotic useless nincompoops. Did not they had at list tax books to read! Thanks to the Minister of Education and the Premier of Limpopo, if they had tax books to read they will not have time to engage in this embarrassing foolish exercise at all!! And we expect to produce mechanical and scientific inventors out of a group of Youth like this! Julius Malema must be laughing out light for the stunning display that Comrade Zuma is performing at the moment!
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Jul 3, 2012

CYBORICO

Maybe they believe its their constititional right 2 hav kookoo
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Jul 3, 2012

WakeUpSouthAfrica

And folks wonder why the more affluent neighbourhoods have high walls around their houses.
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Jul 3, 2012

DjEp

What about the male companion didnt he report the matter to the police or someone senior? the story has a looooooop hole. Either those were her ex's or the male companion must be arrested..
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Jul 3, 2012

mazambique

CYBORICO

kafer is jy en moet stan op die dafel joui mogoe...limpopo is a nice place and thi can happen every where jou seten
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Jul 3, 2012

MGEEZ

So now the police are already defending the rapist before they are tried in a court of law by inferring that the reason why the committed this hideous crime is because they were drunk and therefore could not have known what they were doing? How pathetic of them to jeopardize their own case like this??? Incompetent lot!!!
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