Xenophobia fears after rape

EFFORTS are under way to prevent xenophobic violence in Phoenix following the rape of a domestic worker.

Community leaders and the police have called for calm since the attack took place last week, and warned that anyone found guilty of inciting or participating in violence will face the full force of the law.

A 35-year-old reported that she was raped by two foreign nationals.

The woman, who cannot be named because she is a victim of a sexual crime, said she had been asked by her employer, who has a business in Sastri Park, to help his neighbour with ironing.

She said she felt uncomfortable when she met the neighbour, but complied with her employer’s request. His friend was also in the house.

“While I was cleaning, the man grabbed me from behind and dragged me to his bedroom. He held my mouth so I would not scream.

“He threw me on the bed. He had a grip on me that I could not break,” she said.

She claimed he raped her four times, and his friend raped her twice.

She said they treated her like an animal and did not use protection.

One of the suspects was arrested and will appear in court tomorrow, while the other is on the run.

The victim said she was scared to “face my rapist” in court, but wanted to educate young women living in her district in the fight against men who rape.

The incident led to locals wanting to take revenge on foreign nationals.

Glen Naidoo of VIP Protection Services said they had received several calls from locals complaining about foreigners.

Naidoo said his team advised them to report crime to the police, and that there was no place for xenophobia or vigilantism in the community.

Community worker Shane Hansraj said a meeting had been held with the community and it was agreed they would let the law take its course.

Local councillor Maggie Johnson said she had heard of animosity between locals and some foreign nationals in Phoenix, but had received no complaints.

The vice-chairman of the Pakistan Association of South Africa, Ayaath Khan, said the organisation had dealt with many cases in which people from Pakistan living in South Africa had been falsely accused.

Police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane said the suspect had been taken into custody and would appear in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.