WESTERN CAPE – Relentless efforts to eradicate gender based violence as well as crimes against women and children led to a clamp down on sexual crime offenders by investigators attached to the George Family violence, Child protection and sexual offences unit when they arrested six suspects over the Easter weekend in connection with various incidents of rape that were reported to the police.

This morning, 04 April 2021, the team was dispatched to Kwanokuthula where they arrested a 31 year old suspect on a charge of rape. It is alleged that the 30 year old victim visited her boyfriend at Hani Street, Kwanokuthula on Saturday, 03 April 2021. She fell asleep and was awoken by the suspect, who resides with her boyfriend, at about 01:00 this morning when she discovered he violated her. The suspect was later arrested.

In an unrelated incident, investigation by the team led to the arrest of two suspects following an incident at Zone 8, Thembalethu on Friday, 02 April 2021 at about 23:45. It is alleged that the 32-year-old victim walked in the street when two men approached her. The pair dragged her into a shack where she was assaulted by one and raped by the other thereafter. Both suspects aged 21 and 32 were arrested later. They are facing charges of rape and assault respectively.

Furthermore, the vigilant members also arrested three more suspects aged between 17 and 30 in connection with unrelated incidents of rape that were perpetrated at George and Knysna since Friday, 02 April 2021 to date. The suspects are facing a charge of rape each.

All these suspects remains in custody. They are scheduled to appear in various courts on Tuesday, 06 April 2021.

Source: South African Police Service