A violent 22-year-old man was arrested over the weekend after he verbally and physically assaulted his ex-girlfriend and tried to attack community members who came to her aid.

He also bragged that he had killed three ex-girlfriends.

The victim told police that on Friday, 19 February at about 5pm she was walking with her friend when her ex-boyfriend appeared. He allegedly started swearing at her and demanded the shoes back that he had bought her.

The man allegedly attacked and assaulted the woman. When residents tried to stop him, he also attacked them with stones. Thereafter he dragged his victim to his shack where he even tried to rape her,” explained Captain Solomon Sibiya, spokesperson for the Kagiso Police.

When the victim screamed for help the community again came to her rescue. The man then drew out a panga and charged at them.

“The victim managed to escape and hid at a nearby house until police arrived. She informed the police that she had a protection order against her attacker as he always threatened her and boasted about having killed three of his ex-girlfriends in Venda.”

Colonel Christelle Booysen, the acting Kagiso Police station commander said this type of behaviour cannot be tolerated.

We can and will not tolerate abusive behaviour directed at defenceless women. Gender-based violence has no place in our society and we will deal with it with extreme urgency,” she said.

The suspect has appeared in the Kagiso Magistrates’ Court on charges of assault. Charges of violating a protection order may also be added.