MBOMBELA – The police have confirmed that the women who were removed from a protest against crime on Friday have not formally been charged.
More than 50 protesters were taken into police custody after blocking Samora Machel Drive during a protest action against violent crime against women. In solidarity with victims protesters burnt tyres near the thicket where the crimes were being perpetrated.
One woman told Lowvelder on the scene that they were being attacked by thugs hiding in the thick overgrowth between Brenda Street and Samora Machel Drive. They said three women had been raped over the previous two weeks.
“We are angry. They caught the suspects but we heard they let them out again. We want justice,” said one woman who didn’t want her name mentioned.
According to Capt Charles Bezuidenhout, spokesman for Mbombela SAPS, police are still analysing video footage of the protest. None of the women have been formally charged yet.
In regards with the rape cases, he confirmed that dockets had been opened and were under investigation.
A man taking part in the protest said young men hid in the thicket and attacked the women who passed by. Another protester explained that they were not a formal organisation but they all worked at different companies located in Brenda Street. Everyone using public transport have to walk to work from town, passing the bushes.
She said they had marched to the municipal offices last week, requesting that the thicket be cut down, but nothing has happened. She says they had requested Mbombela Local Municipality numerous times to cut it down.
“Every time we follow up on it they act like it is the first time they hear about it. This is the only language they understand,” she said about the protest action. “It doesn’t affect them directly, so why would they do anything about it? So we are fighting for people who can’t fight for themselves.”
She said the women were afraid to go to work. One of her colleagues added that she had also been mugged a few days ago.
They said the police wee fully aware of the situation. The latter loaded the protesters into vans and took them to the police station.
Spokesman for the municipality, Mr Joseph Ngala, did not comment.
