One rapes while one steals

Midrand police communications officer Constable Matome Tlamela said, “According to the complainant, while she was walking she came across two unknown men who were sitting on the side of the road. Suddenly, one of the men approached her and grabbed her handbag.”

The suspects demanded money and a cellphone before dragging her into nearby bushes. They tied the complainant’s hands and feet and put a piece of cloth in her mouth.

Tlamela said one of the suspects took the complainant’s bank card and pin code and left. The other suspect raped her. She said no arrests had been made and Midrand police were investigating. “The complainant can identify the suspects if she sees them again,” she said.

Midrand police issued guidelines and tips to the community in the case of rape.

Try not to panic

•  Common sense is your best defence
•  You cannot always defend yourself and your resistance may cause serious injury
•  If the attacker is dangerous, cooperate and try to negotiate
•  Submission is not consent
•  Try and remember what the attacker looks like – his age, race, height, hair colour, scars, tattoos, clothes, voice, jewellery
•  Scream, yell, blow your whistle or run away if you possibly can
•  Do not bath or change your clothes after an attack – keep all the evidence so that it can be used by the police for further investigation
•  Report the crime to the police straight away> Go to the police station or phone 10 111.