Teens lay charge after Joburg taxi rank groping
TWO TEENAGERS have laid charges of indecent assault, crimen injuria and sexual harassment against the men who harassed them at the Noord Street taxi rank in central Joburg because one was wearing a miniskirt.
Accompanied by MMC for public safety Matshidiso Mfikoe and Joburg metro police spokesman Chief Superinten- dent Wayne Minnaar, the girls laid the charges at the Johannesburg Central police station yesterday.
“The girls are young, aged 18 and 19, and they are traumatised. We wanted them to open a case so that we are able to legally investigate it. It was sad to see the (CCTV) footage. We hope they will be stronger after this,” said Mfikoe.
Earlier this week, the Sowetan newspaper reported on the 17-minute CCTV footage showing a crowd of men following and groping the girls on Friday.
In the footage, the 18-yearold can be seen screaming at her tormentors and occasionally trying to punch them after they groped her. Metro police came to the rescue of both girls.
Mfikoe said they urged the girls to lay charges against the men to help prevent such incidents from happening again and to help allow other teenagers to feel free to walk around safely in any clothes they chose to wear.
She said the department would provide counselling services to the girls.
Four years ago, another woman, Nwabisa Ngcukana, was stripped and sexually molested at the same taxi rank for wearing a miniskirt.
Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele said the police should relentlessly pursue the case and bring the perpetrators to book. “Taxi ranks are public spaces that are supposed to offer transport and other related services to all, without discrimination.”
The ANC Women’s League was “deeply disturbed and disgusted by the incident”. If the girls needed any assistance, the ANC Women’s League would be happy to help them, said spokeswoman Troy Martens.