MBOMBELA – What was supposed to be a relaxed stroll turned into a night of horror for a local couple when they were attacked in Sonheuwel on Sunday. The woman was brutally raped.
Around 19:00 security official Mr Jacques Meiring of Bossies Community Justice received a call from a devastated mother, who informed him that her son and his girlfriend had been victims of a vicious attack in Brenda Street.
This was the fourth incident Meiring had attended in this particular area on the same day.
It was alleged that they were on their way back home from town when two suspects overpowered them. Upon arrival, Meiring came across the distressed and traumatised male victim, but there was no sign of his partner. He explained to Meiring that she had forcefully dragged into the nearby bush and that he feared the worst.
Meiring phoned for backup and officials of Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit arrived at the scene soon after. The traumatised victim then showed officials where exactly the suspects fled to and where he believed they would find his partner. Within minutes, the police also arrived and a crowd of bystanders started to gather.
The first thing officials found was the woman’s shoes, shortly after which they discovered the 29-year-old victim.
Sgt Gerald Sedibe, provincial police spokesman, confirmed that she had been raped by both suspects. Medical personnel took her to Rob Ferreira Hospital where she was treated.
A group called Nelspruit Concerned Citizens was also on the scene. The area in which the incident occurred was cordoned off in an effort to try and apprehend the suspects.
A man was apprehended but he couldn’t be positively linked to the case. No arrests had been made at the time of going to press.
National crime statistitcs indicated in 2013 that Mpumalanga is the safest province.
