No charges over reserve attack
The men forced the two women to the ground and began touching them indecently.
No criminal charges were laid after two women were recently attacked in a nature reserve east of Pretoria.
This was confirmed by the Sunnyside police.
Spokesperson Asnath Malatsi said the station’s records showed the attempted rape in the Groenkloof nature reserve was not reported.
She said the women were welcome to come and lay a complaint at the station.
Saloshani Pather and her partner said this week they were almost raped at the Groenkloof Nature Reserve.
Their in-law Joanne Ekron said Pather and her partner were about 2km into the hike when two men attacked them on Sunday around 15:00.
She said the men held them at knifepoint took their cellphones and shoes and attempted to rape them.
The men forced the two to the ground and began touching them indecently.
Ekron said the two women began screaming and Pather began praying out loud.
“Somehow one of the men who was over Pather pulled back and they ran off taking Pathers takkies off at the same time,” said Ekron.
She said the two walked back shoeless to seek help.
Ekron said she was disappointed by the security at the reserve.
“As for the security at the reserve, you register and pay an entrance fee to utilize the reserve, this means you’d expect to be safe.”
“There is no warning at the gate to notify anybody of what might occur,” said Ekron.
“Even though they see that you are only woman entering the 5km hike, they pay no mind to it and allow you to continue thinking you’re going to have an amazing experience.”
She said after the ladies got back to the reception area and informed the guards they were taken to the scene of the attack.
There was no concern for their well-being.
Ekron said the trip down to the crime scene didn’t lead to anything and the guards did not do anything about the attack.
She said the women were taken back to the reserve office.
“The ladies managed to get help from a stranger to phone their relatives,” she said.
“When they arrived at Sunnyside police station, the police were not helpful, saying this was not a Sunnyside case.”
An official at the nature reserve was aware of the matter and said it was being investigated.
Similar attacks have been reported in the reserve in the past few months.
Also read:
https://rekordcenturion.co.za/71200/women-attacked-in-groenkloof/
https://rekordeast.co.za/60299/two-more-attacks-in-groenkloof-reserve/
https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/thugs-mug-pair-at-groenkloof-reserve-1969695
https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php?t=221027
https://rekordcenturion.co.za/45718/another-nature-reserve-attack/
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