Abused women must speak out - Modise

WOMEN who are experiencing abuse or have survived violence must get assistance, North West premier Thandi Modise says .

"We condemn in the strongest terms possible violence against women," Modise said.

"[We] call on women who are in abusive relationships to speak out so that they can be assisted."

Two rapes were reported in the North West this weekend.

In the first incident, a man was arrested for allegedly raping a woman, aged 20, at a cemetery in Phokeng on Saturday.

In the second incident, a 92-year-old woman in Mmakau was repeatedly raped during the early hours of yesterday.

The rapist fled on foot and police are searching for him.

Modise said that there was no place in society for men who dehumanised women and treated them like objects.

She called on police to investigate whether a woman who was abducted by her boyfriend this week had also been raped.

The man was arrested on Saturday after allegedly abducting his girlfriend and keeping her locked inside his house for eight days.

He apparently assaulted her with a spade and throttled her with a tie.

Her family launched a search and eventually found and rescued her.