Suspects nabbed for kidnap, attack of pregnant woman

WITH gruesome crimes perpetrated against women across the country in the public spotlight, a 22-year-old pregnant woman was brutally gangraped in Johannesburg’s inner city, while three Soweto women were murdered after apparently being raped.

The crimes took place during the past few days.

The pregnant woman was kidnapped and gang-raped while on her way home from work at a nightclub early on Monday.

The woman’s male colleague said they finished work at 4am and were attacked on Lilian Ngoyi (formerly Bree) Street.

Their names have been withheld to protect the woman’s identity. The man was assaulted, while the other attackers stripped his female colleague.

The woman was then dragged into a dilapidated block of flats nicknamed Mnyama Ndawo, meaning “dark place”, he said.

“When the police arrived, we heard screaming from the building, which has no electricity.

Traumatised

“When we found her, there were men standing in a queue waiting to have sex with her,” said the traumatised man.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said 11 suspects were arrested and were expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of kidnapping and rape.

The woman is in Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital, where she is receiving counselling.

Meanwhile, a devastated mother is mourning the death of her 27-year-old daughter, whose body was discovered on Sunday in Naledi, Soweto.

Lerato Tambai Moloi was last seen in the early hours of Sunday at the Gift’s Inn tavern with a 38-year-old man.

He was arrested and was to appear in the Protea Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

In a separate but equally horrific double murder, police are searching for suspects in connection with the murders and suspected rape of two women, Popi Gumede, 24, and 28-year-old Bongeka Phungula.

Gumede’s body was found on Friday in Naledi and that of Phungula the next day in Tladi.