Police are investigating a case of rape after a 52-year-old woman was allegedly accosted by an unknown man while picking herbs in Maidstone, Tongaat, on Saturday, 5 February.
A general dealer on Gopalall Hurbans Road made a call for assistance after the lady informed him about her incident. According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) spokesperson, Prem Balram, the victim was picking herbs in a sugar plantation, off Walter Reid Road, when she was accosted by an unknown man who produced a knife and asked her to proceed further into the cane field where he raped her twice. “He then led her to the general dealer where he asked her to wait outside and not to draw any attention to herself. She asked him for water which he agreed to provide.”
He said the woman then sought assistance at the general dealer. “The suspect did not return but left behind a bag containing a drill, clothing and a Mobicel cellphone. The only description the victim could provide of the attacker was that he was dressed in brown pants and a brown shirt. Reaction officers conducted an extensive search for a person matching that description, however, no arrests were made.” Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala, KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and said a case of rape was opened for investigation by Tongaat SAPS. She said: “It is alleged by the complainant that on 5 February at 9.30am she was in the Maidstone area when she was grabbed and pulled into the bushes by an unknown suspect who raped her. The matter is under investigation.”
