Durban man dies trying to protect his girlfriend

A DURBAN man has died while trying to defend his 21-year-old girlfriend from being gang-raped by six men.

The heroic boyfriend, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, died at the scene and his girlfriend was taken to an undisclosed local hospital with severe injuries.

The attack comes after a week of national campaigns against the abuse of women and children.

The incident unfolded when the woman and her boyfriend were walking near the Umgeni River Bird Park on Friday evening. It is a popular walking and cycle trail.

Her boyfriend did his best to defend his girlfriend from being attacked, but was assaulted and killed by the gang who had earlier got out of a Quantum minibus taxi.

ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak said the boyfriend was certified dead at the scene by paramedics. “There was nothing they could do for him and he was declared dead. The woman was treated and taken to the hospital,” Vermaak said.

Police appealed to the public for any information they might have on the whereabouts of the minibus taxi to assist them in bringing the suspects to book. TUESDAY MAY 23 2017

Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said they were hoping to make arrests soon.

Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Mxolisi Kaunda condemned the incident and urged police to work around the clock to bring the suspects to book before they continued their criminal activities elsewhere.

It was unfortunate that the incident happened after other incidents of abuse against women and children in the country, he said.

He was concerned by the allegations that the suspects were travelling in a minibus taxi, a commonly used mode of public transport.

“Following these allegations, we will be engaging with the leaders of the SA National Taxi Council in the province to discuss crimes that involve minibuses, and hopefully, find a solution so that such crimes do not escalate,” he said.

Meanwhile, the provincial MEC for Health Sibongiseni Dhlomo yesterday condemned the unabated murder and rape of women in South Africa.

He was speaking at the funeral of Grade 11 pupil Mbalenhle Magcaba whose body was found in the forest near St Julius Secondary School last week. Mbalenhle disappeared after attending a sports event at Kwa-Ximba. Police established she was raped and then strangled with her school tie.