HermanusTimes

The serial rapist in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley who has escaped the law for more than two years, Hannes Mouwers, is believed to be behind the armed robbery at Camphill on Monday evening.

“The modus operandi of the attack corresponds with other incidents where Mouwers was involved,” Sr Supt Steven Lotz, head of the 50-member squad trying to hunt Mouwers down, told the Hermanus Times on Wednesday.

According to a police report a 20-year-old Camphill woman walked with two friends to see them off at about 23:00 on Monday. When she returned to her residence a man suddenly confronted her and pushed a firearm against her neck.

He forced her into a nearby vacant residence, assaulted her and demanded money and her cellphone. She gave him the R200 she had with her.

He threw her onto a bed and covered her head with a blanket. However, the woman then fought her attacker with all her might and shouted at the top of her voice, whereupon the man fled.

The woman ran to the nearest house from where the police were contacted.

Despite a massive hunt nobody has been caught.

A spokesperson for Camphill said on Wednesday the woman - a co-worker from Germany - was severely traumatised but was currently doing “quite well”. She lives in a hut on the school grounds and does not intend leaving now.

Most learners arrive on Sunday for the start of the new school year. Security at the Camphill complex is getting attention.

· Meanwhile the hunt for Mouwers continues. The 13-year old girl he abducted two weeks ago on the farm Diepgat has not yet been found. At the time of going to press police divers were searching the dam on the farm Suiderkruis, following a report that Mouwers had drowned her there.