Frank Maponya
Frank Maponya
Police in Limpopo said yesterday they were awaiting the results of DNA samples they hoped would shed light on the culprit behind multiple rapes, murders and the disappearance of children.
The samples were taken from several men in the Modi- molle area during an operation last month.
Police spokesman Motlafela Mojapelo said yesterday they went to the area and cordoned off a particular spot where they took blood samples from any man they came across.
"We used an authority from the provincial police commissioner, who gave us permission to cordon off any place and search for clues regarding the killings in the area."
He said police believe there is a serial killer on the loose in the area.
Modimolle and the nearby Phahameng township had experienced several incidents of child rapes and murders in the past four years.
"We are awaiting the results with the hope that they might shed some light regarding the rapes and murders in that area," he said.
"We view the cases in a very serious light, hence we are doing everything possible to try and find the culprit."
The incidents happened between 2004 and this year.
To date, eight bodies have been found. The victims were aged between four and 19.
Their bodies were found in the nearby mountains and some of them were raped before being strangled to death.
Mojapelo said it was, however, difficult to determine if some of the victims were raped because of their state of decomposition at the time of their discovery.
"But we have discovered that the modus operandi used in the killings was the same, hence we concluded that a serial killer might be on the loose," he said.
Three children are still missing.
New bid to snare serial killer
Frank Maponya
Frank Maponya
Police in Limpopo said yesterday they were awaiting the results of DNA samples they hoped would shed light on the culprit behind multiple rapes, murders and the disappearance of children.
The samples were taken from several men in the Modi- molle area during an operation last month.
Police spokesman Motlafela Mojapelo said yesterday they went to the area and cordoned off a particular spot where they took blood samples from any man they came across.
"We used an authority from the provincial police commissioner, who gave us permission to cordon off any place and search for clues regarding the killings in the area."
He said police believe there is a serial killer on the loose in the area.
Modimolle and the nearby Phahameng township had experienced several incidents of child rapes and murders in the past four years.
"We are awaiting the results with the hope that they might shed some light regarding the rapes and murders in that area," he said.
"We view the cases in a very serious light, hence we are doing everything possible to try and find the culprit."
The incidents happened between 2004 and this year.
To date, eight bodies have been found. The victims were aged between four and 19.
Their bodies were found in the nearby mountains and some of them were raped before being strangled to death.
Mojapelo said it was, however, difficult to determine if some of the victims were raped because of their state of decomposition at the time of their discovery.
"But we have discovered that the modus operandi used in the killings was the same, hence we concluded that a serial killer might be on the loose," he said.
Three children are still missing.