20-year-old gang-raped

2006-07-17 20:51

Riot Hlatshwayo

Malelane - A gang abducted a 20-year-old woman from in front of her mother and brother and raped her in bushes near the house.

The five men had forced the woman out of her house at Hhoyi in Nkomazi, south of Malelane, on Saturday night.

"They held her to the ground and took turns raping her," said constable Mzwandile Nyambi of Tonga police on Monday.

The gang then raided their neighbour's house and stole cash as well as cigarettes before fleeing.

The woman made her way home and was taken to hospital for medical treatment and counselling.

The gang is still at large.

In a separate incident, police have arrested a 25-year-old man for raping a teenager his family had adopted 18 months ago.

He apparently claimed she was "paying" for her stay by having sex with him.

"He assaulted her and threatened to boot her out if she told anyone.

"She told the family, but they asked her not to tell outsiders because it would bring shame on them," said Nyambi.

So, the girl kept silent and continued to be raped until she couldn't bear it any longer and went to the police. The man is expected to appear in court soon.

In another case, a 41-year-old man was arrested for statutory rape after keeping a 14-year-old girl as a sex slave for three months.

He had taken her to his house in Extension 6 of Kwazamokuhle near Hendrina on April 19.

"He never allowed her out and it is alleged he had sex with her daily, until he released her on Saturday," said captain Klaas Maloka of Highveld police on Monday.

The girl immediately told her mother about her ordeal and police were alerted.

The man is expected to appear in court soon.

- African Eye