Attempted rape and sexual assault shock community
In two separate incidents last week, three men tried to rape a pregnant woman and two young sisters were sexually assaulted.
On Thursday evening, January 18, three men attempted to rape a four-month pregnant woman in the backseat of a black VW Polo in Ottawa, north of Durban, according to Prem Balram, spokesman for the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA).
“A resident of Maharaj Road contacted RUSA at approximately 8.28pm on Thursday, requesting assistance for the pregnant female. On arrival, reaction officers interviewed the woman who explained that she was walking along Northern Drive in Phoenix - when a black VW Polo with three occupants stopped,” said Mr Balram.
“One of the men exited the vehicle and requested directions to a service station in Palmview Drive. While she was assisting the man with directions, a second individual grabbed and forced her into the vehicle.”
They drove off in the direction off Ottawa and the men at the back seat attempted to rape the woman, added Mr Balram.
The woman resisted and the suspects dumped her on the side of the road. Thereafter, they sped off in an unknown direction. The woman sought assistance from a nearby resident who contacted the RUSA Operations Center for assistance. The complainant did not want to open a criminal case and requested to be transported to Phoenix, said Mr Balram.
Meanwhile, on Saturday two sisters aged five and six years old confided in relatives that their father had sexually assaulted them numerous times, said Mr Balram
“The girls live in Hazelmere. After they confided in family members their uncle called RUSA on Saturday at 1.44pm, reaction officers and a female paramedic were immediately dispatched. On arrival, a relative led officers to the suspect’s residence. Both children were in the house. Their father is said to have fled prior to the arrival of first responders,” said Mr Balram.
He added that it is alleged that the father had sexually assaulted both girls on multiple occasions. During December 2023, while he was travelling with them in his car, he touched them inappropriately, the girls told their family.
The girls previously informed a relative who immediately advised their mother of what was going on. According to the family member, the mother requested that the matter not be reported to RUSA. She feared that reaction officers would arrest her husband, said Mr Balram.
“The mother assured the family that she would address the matter privately with her spouse. On Saturday the mother was at her place of employment when her family contacted the RUSA Operations Center and reported the assault. The South African Police Service (SAPS) were called to the scene to investigate further,” said Mr Balram.
