Is gangsterism rearing its ugly head within Newcastle’s borders? This follows a brutal incident that unfolded on Sunday, 23 July 2023, when a group of men, allegedly affiliated with a gang known as Abnormal, wreaked havoc in Section E of Osizweni, damaging seven houses and setting three of them ablaze.
The situation took a horrifying turn when the men gang raped a woman during their spree of destruction.
According to Imran Ghafoor from the Newcastle Crime Fighter Task Team, the nightmare began around 2:30 am on that fateful Sunday when the group of men embarked on their chaotic rampage through Section E.
As they moved from house to house, terrorising the community, they targeted one particular home where they assaulted a woman.
Ghafoor revealed that the men forcibly took the woman from her home, where she was subjected to a brutal sexual assault. They then dragged her to another location and subjected her to yet another horrifying ordeal. The sheer brutality of the attack has left numerous community members in shock.
Moreover, Captain Sipho Nkosi, the Osizweni SAPS spokesperson, provided further details about the disturbing incident.
At one of the houses targeted for destruction, the assailants demanded the homeowner hand over her son. When she refused to comply, the men ransacked the house in search of him. Upon failing to find the son, they callously set fire to the RDP house and a nearby shack.
In the aftermath of the horrifying event, the Newcastle Crime Fighter Task Team, in collaboration with the Amajuba District SAPS and Optimus Protection Services, launched an investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Acting on gathered intelligence, an operational team was assembled, leading to the arrest of four men who were taken into custody. Despite the arrests, uncertainty surrounds whether the incident is directly linked to gangsterism or just criminality.
Captain Nkosi stated, “The issue of gang activity is not the same as before in the area. While there are incidents, gang activity has decreased, and the matter will be subject to further investigation.”
Additionally, Captain Nkosi credited the decline in gangsterism to the intensified efforts of the SAPS.
He explained that high density operations targeting violent crimes have been instrumental in curbing the prevalence of gang related incidents in the area.
As the investigation into the shocking attack continues, the public is encouraged to voice their views in the comment section below.
Comments 1
We live in a lawless country, with no backbone police to enforce law and order…