Taxi rank assault - criminal case opened

2012-01-05 21:09

Johannesburg - The two teenagers who were seen being sexually assaulted by a group of men at the Noord Street taxi rank for wearing miniskirts have opened a case with the police, Johannesburg police said on Thursday.

Warrant Officer Xoli Mbele said the girls opened a case of sexual assault, indecent assault and crimen injuria at the Johannesburg central police station on Wednesday night.

He said the girls were accompanied by their relatives.

The Sowetan newspaper reported that the two girls were harassed and groped in public last Friday. The first girl to be groped wore a black miniskirt with an animal print top, while her friend wore black leggings and a black top with white bra straps showing.

CCTV footage showed a group of men chasing the girls before groping them.

The girls were later escorted by metro police to their homes.

Mbele said no arrests had been made.

Meanwhile, two people were arrested during a law enforcement operation at the same taxi rank on Thursday.

Department of community safety spokesperson Dumisani Ngema said one was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and another for drug possession.

He said 21 unroadworthy taxis were impounded and another 116 were found with mechanical defaults including brake failure, worn out tyres and shocks.

"The operation was also intended to strengthen perceptions of safety as the Noord Street Taxi Rank is increasingly becoming notorious, particularly for young women," said Ngema.

- SAPA