Police in Ganyesa outside Vryburg in North West have arrested two suspects in connection with the killing of two men and the rape of a woman in the village on Sunday.

The men had apparently come to the aid of a group of women whom the suspects allegedly tried to rob as they were leaving a tavern‚ police said.

The men were driving past when they heard the women screaming and drove back to assist the women. While doing so‚ they came under fire from the assailants and crashed into a fence. They were found dead with gunshot wounds inside the vehicle.

A woman was also seriously injured in the attack‚ while another was kidnapped and raped by the fleeing suspects.

“In order to ensure that the suspects are arrested‚ the police blocked Vryburg-Ganyesa and Swartfontein-Vryburg roads. That resulted in the arrest of one of the suspects on the Vryburg-Ganyesa roadblock while the second suspect was nabbed in the Vryburg Central Business District (CBD).

The first suspect was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition‚” North West police said. They said a preliminary investigation had revealed that the pair were linked with other cases of business robbery and attempted murder allegedly committed in Morokweng.

“They are also linked with a car-hijacking and attempted murder cases that were reported in Mooinooi on Friday‚ 30 March 2018. They are expected to appear in the Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.”

The suspects face two counts of murder‚ four of attempted murder‚ as well as charges for car-hijacking‚ business robbery‚ illegal possession of firearm and ammunition‚ kidnapping and rape.