Woman sexually assaulted after accepting a lift to work
The suspect then apparently touched the women in ways and in places that made her feel uncomfortable.
The Bronkhorstspruit Police warned the public against hitchhiking or accepting lifts from strangers.
The warning follows after several complaints of rape or sexual assaults were received.
A woman, on her way to work, was walking alone down Lanham Street in Bronkhorstspruit on the morning of May 19.
According to the victim, a white vehicle of unknown make and model followed her. The vehicle was slowly moving with her as she was walking.
The driver was allegedly a Pakistani. He began to question the woman.
The suspect spoke English and asked the victim where she heading and then offered her a lift to her place of work.
The victim accepted and climbed into the front passenger seat of the vehicle.
The man then switched to Zulu and told the woman that she was beautiful.
According to Const Catherine Ramovha, media spokesperson for the Bronkhorstspruit Police, the man then inappropriately touched the woman which made her uncomfortable.
“He (the suspect) then grabbed and forced her to hug him, while pulling her towards him. He then squeezed her right breast while asking for her contact details,” said Const Ramovha.
“The woman pushed his hand away while trying to open the door of the moving vehicle.”
However, the door was locked and the woman began to cry.
“The suspect told the woman that he would return to fetch her after work as he wanted to sleep with her,” said Const Ramovha.
The suspect handed his phone to the woman and she was asked to put her contact detail on his phone.
The suspect then apparently stopped a motor dealer in Bronkhorstspruit. The woman got out of the car and threw the cellphone at the motorist.
The victim continued to walk to her place of work where she informed her manager.
A case of sexual assault was opened and is being investigated by the police.
“We warn the public not to accept a lift from a stranger and to refrain from hitchhiking. Several cases of sexual assault and even rape have been reported while hitchhiking,” concluded Const Ramovha.
