Handicapped woman suffers alleged sexual attack
The perpetrator was arrested but the family have declined to press charges.
A YOUNG, mentally-handicapped woman and her family are receiving counselling after she was allegedly sexually assaulted in a public toilet situated next to a Pinetown beauty and hairdressing salon.
According to a close family friend who asked not to be identified, the young woman is a regular customer at the salon. “The beautician and hair dressers at the salon are very fond of her and are aware of her condition. They usually make a big fuss over her and keep her entertained so her mother can have a break while they pamper her,” said the family friend.
On Saturday, 12 September, after receiving her treatment at the salon, the woman went to the toilet, which is situated next to the salon premises. She was allegedly followed into the toilet by the gents’ hairstylist, who locked her in the toilet and allegedly sexually assaulted her.
When the woman’s mother arrived to fetch her, she became frantic because her daughter was not waiting in her usual chair. Her daughter came out the toilet and got into the car and suffered a ‘seizure’. While the mother attended to her daughter and tried to pacify her, the daughter confided in her what had happened.
The mother stormed into the salon and demanded they call the police. The man, in the presence of police and other witnesses, begged the victim for forgiveness after earlier denying the incident had occurred.
The man was arrested but the family have declined to press charges as they feel the trauma of a trial would prolong their daughter’s suffering and further humiliate her. Their daughter has been handicapped since birth and has the mental capacity of a five-year-old child.
The owner of the salon told the Highway Mail that no one knew what had really happened, as the alleged incident had occurred outside of the salon. She confirmed that the male hairstylist had taken a leave of absence from work.
“In twenty years, nothing like this has ever happened before. The salon is a public place with people going in and out of it all the time, so nothing could happen in the salon. The police came, but I am not sure what happened after that.”
The young woman is currently being treated for minor injuries and will have to undergo antiretroviral treatment as a precaution. She and her family are undergoing grief and trauma counselling.
