Three women were raped in separate incidents in Grahamstown over the weekend, Eastern Cape police said on Monday.

In the first incident a 53-year-old woman returning home from church was raped, allegedly by a beggar, on Fort Beaufort Road, central Grahamstown on Sunday at 3.40pm, said Inspector Milanda Coetzer.

"A street beggar followed her, asking for money. He then grabbed her bag and forced her to the ground and allegedly raped her."

The alleged rapist fled the scene and was still at large.

Also on Sunday a 47-year-old woman was raped, allegedly by her nephew, in the Vukani area. The woman ? who had just harvested beetroot ? had entered a relative's house to ask for a plastic bag for her beetroot when the 16-year-old allegedly dragged her to a bed and raped her.

"He choked her with a thin chain when she tried to scream for help."

The youth was later arrested and would appear in the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court soon.

On Saturday, a Tsalanang tavern patron was raped and assaulted, allegedly by a teenager and a man.

"The woman and her two friends were walking home from the tavern at 10pm, when they were attacked by two men who assaulted them. The other two women managed to run away, however, she tripped and fell," Coetzer said.

The suspects, aged 17 and 23, caught up with her and allegedly raped her several times.

The pair was later arrested and would appear in the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court.