Hotspot headache – domestic workers victimised

The presence of thugs reportedly using Sterkloopspruit as it runs parallel to Suid Street as hideout turning the area into a hotspot of vicious criminality from where they allegedly terrorise female domestic workers seems to have gone unattended to by the Police until this week when questions about the situation led to an undertaking for intervention.
Cases relating to sexual offences and theft seemingly went unreported as victims allegedly had no confidence in the Police until the safety of women utilising a specific portion of Suid Street to and from work came under the spotlight after the alleged attempted rape of a woman last week. The incident caused an outcry among residents of nearby retirement facilities who are not only concerned about the safety of their domestic workers but also allege that the Police are not making any effort to get rid of persons using Sterkloopspruit as a spot where stolen items are sorted or even set alight to obtain copper wires from inside electronic items.

A domestic worker spoke to Polokwane Observer on condition of anonymity about the ordeal last Tuesday when she was nearly raped. “I was leaving my place of employment at around 12:00. As I entered Suid Street a man approached me, saying he wanted to sleep with me. I refused but the next moment I saw his trousers were already down. He grabbed me and tried to undress me. A security guard on duty at Martha Hofmeyr Huis vir Bejaardes saw the incident and rushed to my rescue. The suspect fled in the direction of the spruit,” she said.
The security guard then accompanied her to his workplace and arranged for her to go home to Mankweng.
“The following day I went to Mankweng Police Station but they referred me to Polokwane. When I arrived and told the officer on duty what had happened, I was told that they could not assist me as I was not raped,” she said. She had no choice but to leave the Police station without any help or assistance.
“We are scared to go to work. This has been going for years and domestic workers in the area continuously warn one another about the dangers lurking in the area. I have heard of several incidents where domestic workers were robbed of their handbags while walking along Suid and Marshall streets and the suspects then fleeing in the direction of the spruit,” she said.
On a question as to why all the cases were not being reported to the Police she said domestic workers had no trust in the Police as nothing was being done.
“At first, one should be killed or raped for the Police to do something. Domestic workers are scared to come to work or to go home as they have been the victims of criminals in the area for years. They are being ambushed in broad daylight. It is believed that stolen items are also carried to the spruit and sorted,” a nearby resident said.
Polokwane Police Spokesperson Lesiba Ramoshaba said the station have taken note of the complaint and that Police will increase visibility in the area by also making use of motorcycles.
On the issue of the domestic worker allegedly not been treated well at the station, Ramoshaba urged her to lodge a formal complaint with the acting Station Commander André Kotze on 082 414 2314.
He also indicated that the victim is welcome to consult with the commander of the detectives Linky Mathebula on 082 628 3172.
“We cannot allow our clients to be treated in such cruel manner. We need to expose those types of people within our ranks,” Ramoshaba said.
He urged residents in the problem area to report any suspicious people or vehicles by calling 015 290 6577 or 015 290 6603/4. The relief commander on duty at any specific time can also be contacted on 079 889 5794.

Story & photos: RC Myburgh
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