BLOEMFONTEIN – A man was arrested for rape after he reportedly lured a woman using Facebook to a meeting in Odendaalsrus on Saturday, 20 June 2020 where she was alleged to have been raped.
It is alleged that a 25-year-old woman from Welkom went to Odendaalsrus to meet a male friend she met on Facebook for their first meeting.
It is further reported that the meeting took place and the male friend was wearing a face mask and not known to the lady.
The victim went on to allege that the male was in possession of a knife and threatened her with it. He pulled her towards nearby bushes at the back of Khotsong Primary School at an open field where he raped her at knifepoint. He reportedly gave her R20 so that she can go back to Welkom. She then went to SAPS Kutlwanong where a case of rape was opened.
During the time while the woman was busy opening a case at the police station, the woman received a call on her cellphone from her alleged rapist who wanted to apologize for what he has done to her and asked to see her once again.
She was then told what to say to him by the officers on duty in order to effect an arrest.
Members immediately operationalised. The suspect was tracked strategically with the assistance from the K9 Unit in the vicinity of Lengoeleng up until Block 1 near Dhlamini’s tavern where police members pounced on the suspect. The suspect was in possession of a cellphone that he used to chat with the victim, a black beanie head dress and black hand gloves. The scene of crime was visited where other exhibits were collected to be taken for forensic examination.
This 32-year-old suspect was arrested and charged for rape. He will appear in Odendaalsrus Magistrate’s Court for rape on Monday, 22 June 2020.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane pleads with women to be careful when using social media as perpetrators use this medium to lure unsuspecting female victims. He also lauded members for their swift action to ensure that the suspect is removed from our community

Source: South African Police Service