Community demands action after alleged rape of pensioner

When approached for comment by Kathorus MAIL, Capt. Mega Ndobe, the media liaison officer for the Kathorus SAPS Cluster, confirmed that a case of rape had been lodged on the morning of New Year’s Day in Extension 13, Vosloorus.

He said the case was between neighbours, one of whom is an Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officer.

According to Ndobe, the probe has almost been finalised following investigations by members of the local Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit.

“We are now only waiting for the forensic DNA results before we can move on to the next step, depending on the outcome of these results,” said Ndobe.

Ndobe also confirmed that no arrest has been made so far and the police expect the DNA results to be made available to them during the course of this week.

“We are appealing to the community of Paradise Park to give law enforcement officers a chance to complete their duties before they can expect the police to act,” he said.

Meanwhile, members of the local community, many of them youths, told Kathorus MAIL they were watching the police’s actions very closely.

“We have reason to believe that the police are deliberately dragging their feet on this matter because one of the people involved is a traffic officer,” said a community member who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal.

A family member claimed they were still shocked by the fact that the matter was still being probed by the police after a case was opened at the Vosloorus Police Station on New Year’s Day.

“Why does it have to take them this long to take action against the suspect?” she asked.

Another resident pointed out that the community of Paradise Park gathered at the local park three weeks ago to revive a sense of community through a “know your neighbour” get-together. “This has come as a shock to all of us as it goes against the very spirit we want to promote among neighbours,” said the resident.