IT has been alleged that a woman was sexually assaulted and nearly kidnapped by two men in Morningside, Durban last week.

The screams of the victim allegedly alerted a patrolling security guard to a suspicious Volkswagen Polo, with two male occupants, on Venice Road in Morningside on Wednesday, 12 February at around 6.30pm, said Blue Security community and media liaison officer, Andreas Mathios.

The officer is said to have called for backup and the suspects were instructed to pull over.

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“It was then that they discovered the “distressed” and bleeding woman on the back seat,” added Mathios.

Mathios said the two men were ordered out of the vehicle and Berea SAPS called to the scene.

“The response officers also discovered that the suspects’ vehicle’s VIN number did not correspond to the number plates,” he said.

When paramedics arrived at the scene the woman, who is believed to be in her late 3os, was said to be erratic and “extremely aggressive”.

“It is believed that she was under the influence of a mind-altering substance. The female began assaulting paramedics as they attempted to assess her,” said Kyle van Reenen of Crisis Medical. 

Van Reenen confirmed that the woman had been physically assaulted, but rejected claims that the woman bore injuries of sexual assault.

The men were arrested for kidnapping and assault.

They, along with the victim, and vehicle were transported to the Berea police station for questioning and further investigation.

“Further questioning by the authorities revealed that the female was, in fact, a sex worker, and a dispute took place between her and her friends,” said Van Reenen. 

He said police also confirmed that the vehicle had not been stolen.

The woman declined to open a case and the suspects were released.

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“The female was counselled with the assistance of a local trauma counselling team,” confirmed Van Reenen.

Mathios said while the victim had “decided” not open a case, they stood by their statement on the incident.

“The victim reported the alleged rape and attempted kidnapping to our officers at the scene of the arrest of the suspects,” he said. 

KZN police media spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane confirmed that no case of assault or kidnapping had been opened at the Berea SAPS.

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