A 56-year-old man appeared before the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court for attempted murder and rape on Monday.
Mogomotsi Mothupi’s court appearance comes from an incident reported late at night on August 6, at Mahumapelo Section, Marikana.
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Colonel Adéle Myburgh said Mothupi allegedly knocked on the door of his 58-year-old girlfriend’s residence, accompanied by a 49-year-old woman.
His girlfriend unlocked the door, they entered and sat down.
“It is further alleged that Mothupi suddenly took a hammer and started smashing property inside the house,” Myburgh said.
“Furthermore, he poured paraffin over his girlfriend and set her alight. He then grabbed the other 49-year-old lady and raped her, whilst his girlfriend was still burning.”
After the rape, Myburgh said the suspect told the 49-year-old woman to pack his girlfriend’s clothes while he drove her to the hospital.
Mothupi allegedly then took his injured girlfriend to a nearby bus station, where he stopped a taxi and fled. The taxi driver transported the woman to a neighbouring hospital, where she was hospitalised for more than two months, until October 10.
“Both women opened cases against Mothupi. He was arrested in September 2024, for rape and appeared in court. He was denied bail and will re-appear before the court on Thursday, 20 March 2025.”
