Silent protest staged for female victim from Duduza
Members from the Duduza and Tsakane communities embarked on a silent protest outside Nigel Magistrate's Court on June 24, to condemn gender-based crimes and sexual violence against women. In a symbolic gesture, the protesters stayed quiet to demonstrate their disapproval.
This follows an incident which occurred in Duduza on June 21 when a female victim in her 30s was reportedly abducted and assaulted, not only by her boyfriend but also by his friend.
According to Phindile Mefane, her cousin (the victim) visited her briefly on Sunday morning. She later returned to her house in Duduza, where an argument between the victim and her boyfriend ensued.
“My cousin was beaten by her boyfriend, which prompted her to walk to the police station to report the assault,” a visibly upset Mefane told HERAUT.
While walking, a VW Jetta allegedly pulled up next to the victim and the driver who pretended to be a local taxi driver, offered to transport the victim to Duduza police station. She accepted the offer, but instead of driving to the police station, she was taken to a house in Tsakane, where she was allegedly drugged and repeatedly raped.
“My cousin told me that there were multiple firearms and loads of drugs inside this house and after what felt like hours of being brutally assaulted, she was driven to a nearby veld where some sort of satanic ritual was performed by the suspect and my cousin’s boyfriend.”
Mefane said the suspects were drinking alcohol, smoked dagga and fired random shots into the air. Her cousin, while bleeding profusely, managed to escape and ran towards a cemetery, where she hid in thick bushes. The suspects chased after her, but were unable to find her and later gave up.
“After staying in the bushes for a while, my cousin emerged and noticed a patrolling police vehicle nearby. She signalled them for assistance and through their swift reaction, they managed to arrest one of the suspects. The other fled on foot and has not been seen since,” Mefane said.
SAPS Duduza spokesperson Sgt Harry Manaka confirmed that a 40-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with sexual assault, kidnapping and possession of an unlicensed firearm in the early hours of June 22.
Sgt Manaka said the suspect briefly appeared in court on June 24, but the case was postponed for the investigation to continue.
