Rape accusations unconfirmed
Accusations in a voice note about a man drugging, raping and assaulting a woman at the Fairy Knowe Hotel in Wilderness could not be confirmed by police. The voice note also suggested that the man, who was arrested on suspicion of theft and assault on Tuesday afternoon, is part of a syndicate that has been operating in the area. It was sent to various WhatsApp groups in and around Wilderness on Tuesday 4 August.
The arrest followed shortly after complaints of theft and assault were reported at the George police station. No rape incident could be confirmed.
"The suspect (38) was arrested this afternoon by four police members after he was apprehended in Kleinkrantz," said Southern Cape police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie on Tuesday. "A member of the public initially pursued the suspect at a safe distance but later lost sight of him. The information was followed up by the investigating officer and our members found the suspect in Kleinkrantz. He faces charges of theft of a firearm and assault following an incident that took place on 31 July."
The suspect drove a bluegrey Toyota bakkie with GP registration number and, according to a source, was alternating this with a CX number. He is currently in custody at the George police station and will appear in court soon. According to Fairy Knowe hotel management, the suspect and a woman checked into the hotel on Thursday evening, 30 July. “He walked with her to the room, he did not enter her room. He then left and we contacted her [the woman’s] parents and the police after she made allegations.
“They fetched her early the next morning. The police were here but no incidents occurred at the hotel and the man never returned,” she said.