The quiet of Hoveni village in Limpopo was shattered late Friday night when terror swept through its homes, leaving behind broken doors, wounded bodies, and hearts full of anguish.
Between 11:30 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., two armed men moved through the village like shadows, forcing their way into seven different homes. They weren’t just after valuables. What they left behind was far more devastating: trauma, pain, and fear.
In one home, a family huddled together as the intruders kicked down the door. Demands for money and phones were barked at gunpoint. In another, the unimaginable happened—two teenage girls, just 14 and 15, were raped. Their innocence stolen in the dark while their families stood powerless to stop it.
A father was shot multiple times trying to protect his home. He now fights for his life in a hospital bed.
“These attacks were not just criminal—they were brutal violations of human dignity,” said Colonel Malesela Ledwaba. “This wasn’t random. It was calculated, and it has left an entire community deeply shaken.”
Residents of Hoveni are now living in fear. The familiar safety of their homes has been replaced by locked doors and sleepless nights. The cries of victims still echo across the village.
Police have collected empty bullet shells from the scenes and launched a massive manhunt. A specialized team of detectives and tactical units is working around the clock to find those responsible.
Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, the province’s top police officer, spoke with heavy emotion.
“This is not just about catching criminals. This is about restoring dignity, healing wounds, and sending a clear message that no child, no woman, no man deserves to live in fear,” she said.
She promised justice—not just for those hurt that night, but for every family whose peace was stolen.
“We will not stop until they are found,” she vowed. “What they did was unforgivable.”
The police are pleading with anyone who may know something—no matter how