A woman (age unknown) was raped after accepting a lift near Leratong Hospital last week.
Captain Solomon Sibiya, the Kagiso Police spokesperson said the incident took place at about 4pm on Wednesday, 5 August.
He said the victim alleged that she was on her way home to Green Village in Soweto after visiting the local police station.
While she was hitchhiking at the intersection near Leratong Hospital, a man driving a white VW Golf Citi Sport stopped next to her and offered her a lift. A few metres away from the traffic lights he pulled off the road to an isolated spot where he switched off the engine and locked all doors. He then ordered the victim to undress herself. She resisted as the suspect pulled off her clothes and adjusted the passenger seat. He forced himself on her and raped her.
“The victim was saved by law-enforcement officers who were driving past and noticed a suspicious-looking vehicle in an open space. They ordered the 59-year-old driver out of the vehicle.
The victim related her story to the officers but the man argued that his actions were part of an agreement in exchange for job placement.
“He was arrested and later detained at the Kagiso Police Station where a case docket of rape was registered.”
The suspect already appeared in the Kagiso Magistrates’ Court last Friday. The outcome is not yet known.
“I applaud the officers who went out of their way to save the victim. Such acts of gender-based violence undermine and degrade the dignity of women in our societies. Those who engage in such behaviour will face the might of the law without any mercy,” warned Brigadier Themba Maduna, Kagiso Police station commander.
