Klerksdorp Record, Jouberton - A student suffered a terrible ordeal over the weekend, after going to the police station to open a case against her boyfriend for abuse and then being raped on the way home by two strangers.
The young woman (19) went back to college after the harrowing events, but is severely traumatised, according to her parents. The drama unfolded on Saturday July 26, when the victim and her boyfriend had an argument. It is unknown what the disagreement was about.
Her father told Klerksdorp Record that they went to the local police station that night because she wanted to open a case of domestic violence. “She told me that her boyfriend threatened to leave her at the police station if she opens a case against him. He then left her at the police station because she decided to go ahead with the criminal case.’’
According to the victim’s father, the police station was very crowded and the police were busy. “As I understand it, they didn’t want to open a case and told her to leave. Maybe they were just too busy,’’ he said.
Then things got ugly... According to her father, she left the police station late that night on foot and realised soon that she was followed by men she recognised from the police station. They overpowered her while walking home to Alabama and she was raped by two of them.
“She managed to get home. She was in a state and I then took her back to the police station to open a rape docket,’’ the distraught father said. His daughter was transferred to the Crisis Centre at Tshepong Hospital where he fetched her later on Sunday July 27.
The father is now blaming the police, saying they could have done something to prevent this. “Why did they not at least call me to come and pick her up? She should not have been allowed to walk home alone at that time of night and then this would not have happened to her. I am very disappointed and upset about this,’’ he said.
He hopes the police will catch his daughter’s rapists. “She said she will be able to identify the two who raped her.’’
Brig Sabatha Mokgwagone, police spokesperson, listened to the complaint and said the father’s claims will be investigated. “Only then will we be able to respond to your enquiry,’’ he told Klerksdorp Record.
* The identity of the victim is withheld. The photo is only for illustration purposes.
