Cape Times

Security officers rescue two women from suspected rapists

- NICOLA DANIELS nicola.daniels@inl.co.za

VIGILANT private security officers in the Brackenfel­l area have been lauded after they caught three suspected rapists red-handed in an isolated area and apprehende­d them.

Police confirmed the three suspects, all aged 22, were arrested on Sunday.

“Three men were arrested on 24 April 2022 on charges of rape. According to reports the incident occurred next to Brackenfel­l railway line at approximat­ely 2.40am.

“Cases are under investigat­ion by Kraaifonte­in FCS,” police spokespers­on Ndakhe Gwala said.

The suspects are expected to make their first court appearance at the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court today.

Private security officers from Titanium Securitas said they were alerted to the incident during the early hours when they found a woman crying in front of their building.

“One of our armed response officers found a devastated woman in front of our offices in tears seeking help. The response officer called for back-up while talking to the woman and hearing her story. She claimed that she was sexually assaulted by three men close to the Old Railway houses in Brackenfel­l. She provided a detailed descriptio­n of the alleged suspects,” the company said in a statement.

Titanium Securitas sent a group of officers to the scene.

“Upon arrival of the back-up vehicles, the armed response officers proceeded to the location mentioned by the victim. On their arrival on scene, the response officers found all three suspects still inside along with another two women being sexually assaulted.

“The officers immediatel­y intervened. The suspects tried to fight their way out but were quickly apprehende­d and detained. Brackenfel­l SAPS was contacted,” the company added.

It is alleged that the suspects had recorded the crime on their cellphones.

“While waiting for SAPS, the other two victims mentioned that the suspects made videos of them being sexually assaulted. The phone was located and taken away from the suspects. The suspects, phone and scene were handed over to Brackenfel­l SAPS for further investigat­ion.”

Gender-based violence activist June Dolley-Major said she hoped the case would be treated with the utmost priority.

“I am happy they got the footage because it is always an alleged crime, alleged rape, the fact that there’s footage as evidence does help the case. “I do hope with the backlog with forensics doesn’t get a delay with DNA and evidence doesn’t get lost.”

She added that more work needed to be done with young boys and men, so they can change the gender-based violence narrative in the country.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa