“We do our jobs and get raped. The police only fold their arms and terrorise the victims even more. But when you get sick, you expect us to nurse you back to health.” This was the message relayed at a march from Themba Hospital to KaBokweni Police Station on Friday in protest against the rape of a nurse on February 7.
The woman was walking to work from home that evening when three men cornered and allegedly raped her mere metres away from the KaBokweni Police Station. To fuel the fire, it is alleged that the police apparently made no effort to apprehend the perpetrators. According to SAPS spokesman Brig Selvy Mohlala, the police made an arrest a few days after the woman reported the case.
Only after an official investigation would they have been able to make the other two arrests.
Mohlala denied that the nurse was assaulted near the police station and said it happened very close to Themba Hospital.
“It happened a few meters away from the station,” cried a frantic protester. “We can take you to where exactly it all happened and it is close enough to hear her calls for help.”
According to unnamed protesters, the community decided to take matters into their own hands and assaulted the two suspects to such an extent that one of them died on the scene.
“This lack of service is unacceptable,” said the voice over the microphone at the march. “As nurses, we heal and treat the injured. As policemen, you are supposed to keep all of us safe and you have failed. Now someone is dead because you have failed us.”
Mohlala confirmed that one accused did in fact die before the ambulance reached him. The exact cause of death will only be known after an autopsy.
About 200 protesters gathered in scorching heat in KaBokweni to let the police know how upset they were at the poor service delivery.
KaBokweni’s station commander, Col Dawie Pieterse, acknowledged receipt of the memorandum and promised to respond in due time.
The Department of Health has also expressed its grievances and said it felt saddened by the horrific ordeal. “The department has met with the victim since the incident to give her full support,” said spokesman, Mr Dumisani Malamule.
“Some of the nursing staff at the hospital also embarked on a march on Friday to the KaBokweni Police Station where a memorandum was delivered. Among the issues on the memorandum was a request to increase the police’s visibility in the area. The hospital also requested the police to prioritise the case against the alleged criminals.
“The department would like to commend the police for their speedy apprehension of the alleged criminals. The department has confidence that the police and the justice system will ensure that the alleged criminals face the full might of the law.
“It does not condone the actions by the criminals and we believe that a lot will be done by the SAPS to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.”
