A Mpumalanga man has been arrested for allegedly raping a 79-year-old blind woman on Sunday.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, the 48-year-old was arrested in Vosman and charged with the rape of the woman who lived a few houses from him.
"[He] allegedly went to her house, found her there alone and raped her. She then ran towards the street as her daughter arrived home with her male friend.
"Her daughter then managed to grab her and tried to find out what was going on when she realised that her mother looked terrified," said Hlathi.
While the woman was consoling her mother, her friend went into the house and found the man putting his pants back on.
"He then wrestled with the suspect; meanwhile, other members of the community came over to assist. Police were later notified about the incident, and upon arrival, police arrested the suspect on a charge of rape, but due to his injuries, he was taken to hospital for medical treatment," he said.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Emalahleni Magistrate's Court on 10 May.
Acting Mpumalanga police commissioner Major-General Thulani Phahla welcomed the arrest and urged members of the public not to take the law into their own hands.
"We are adamant that the investigation team will work hard to ensure that justice is served for the elderly," said Phahla.