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Several large bundles of clothing, blankets and duvets, a fire-arm, ammunition and dagga were discovered by the Police when an alleged victim of abduction and rape took them to a hide-out in the bushes along the railway line close to the Road Camp to the south of Makhado (Louis Trichardt) this week. In the picture, from left to right, are area communications officer Supt Alwei Mushawanamadi, D/Insp Sithole and local communications officer Insp Daniel Ndlovu.
Abductee used as sex slave
News Date: 08 April 2005
MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – The ordeal of an 18-year-old girl who was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted, came to light early this week when the local police arrested three male suspects.
The three suspects, two from Zimbabwe and one from Matoks, are aged 24, 31 and 35. They have been charged with the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, possession of suspected stolen property and possession of dagga.
Their arrests followed after swift reaction from the local police on a telephonic report by a member of the public who informed them about a girl who had allegedly been abducted and raped. According to the report, the girl and her abductor were seen in a taxi, ready to depart for Matoks.
According to a police media release, the girl was allegedly abducted by a 24-year-old Zimbabwean male, who met her last Sunday about 17:45 along the N1 near the Tourist Information Centre. He allegedly took her to his hide-out in the bushes where she was held as a sex slave for the duration of the weekend. At one stage, he threatened to kill her. She was left with other men in the bush, while her alleged kidnapper went on robbing missions into town.
According to her statement to the police she gained her kidnapper’s confidence and promised to assist him in his intention to get hold of a South African ID document. She would pass him off as her lover if he would accompany her to her home in Matoks, where they could organize the document. At the taxi rank in Eltivillas, she entered a taxi with him, but then asked to visit the toilet. In the toilet she informed another woman of her ordeal and requested her to phone the police.
After the arrest, she took the police to the hide-out in the bush, where they arrested two other suspects and found various hidden stolen goods. Amongst these was a .22-rifle and ammunition which the suspect allegedly kept for self-protection. The goods also include a bicycle, cameras, clothes (including trousers and shoes), blankets, duvet covers, tools and a box of dagga.
The woman was taken to hospital for treatment.
Written by
Frans van der Merwe
Frans van der Merwe is a freelance journalist with more than 40 years experience in the newspaper industry. Apart from newspaper reporting, he was also involved with radio news, news reading, training and marketing. He has been living and working in Louis Trichardt since 1991.
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