The fact that there are no safe ways for pedestrians between Fochville and Kokosi led to a woman being raped recently.

The woman (45) was walking from Kokosi Extension 3 toward her workplace in Fochville at about 05:00 on February 2. She was walking through the veld near Kokosi Extension 5 when an unknown man came up to her.

He grabbed her and dragged her into the bushes, where he raped her without a condom. She then managed to push him away and run away. Luckily, he ran in the opposite direction.

She later told a family member about the incident, who advised her to open a case with the police.

The incident highlights the fact that there are currently no safe shortcuts for pedestrians to travel between Fochville and Kokosi.

They have to walk in front of oncoming traffic, as the pedestrian bridge on the sidewalk was washed away during heavy rain in 2023. Many residents also used an informal bridge over a pipe to cross the Loopspruit near the current motor and pedestrian bridge. This enables them to take a safer shortcut through the veld than the one past Extension 5, where the woman was raped.

This informal bridge was, however, also washed away in 2023.

The Herald again contacted the Merafong City Local Municipality about the issue.

“The municipality has listed the upgrading of Loopspruit bridge. Applications are being made to relevant funding providers. As and when the budget becomes available, the bridge will be upgraded accordingly,” their marketing and communications manager, Temba Fezani, replied.