Six of the eight survivors of the gang rape in Krugersdorp, along with their families, met with the police minister, General Bheki Cele, on Sunday at the Alexandra police station.
In an alleged attack last Thursday at a video shoot in West Village, Krugersdorp, eight women were gang raped.
Singers, models, presenters, and makeup artists working professionally are among the survivors.
Some of the survivors were revealed to be as young as 19 at the conference, and Minister Cele reassured them and their families that police were searching every possible avenue to find their attackers.
These young women are traumatised and in poor physical and emotional health. Faith Mazibuko, the MEC for community safety in Gauteng, has deployed psychologists and council members to provide mental healthcare to them because of this.
The young women’s primary purpose was to make a living, but they were faced with such cruelty instead, Cele said.
“I have also demanded that Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu, provide more support and quickly commence restorative measures for these young ladies.”
According to the police, actions to stop illegal activity and apprehend wanted offenders in the West Village area are ongoing while investigations into the alleged robbery and rape are being conducted to identify the culprits.
Multidisciplinary teams from the Department of Home Affairs, the Special Task Force, the National Intervention Unit, the Tactical Response Team, K9 units, Flying Squad, Highway Patrol, SAPS Airwing, and other private security partners are involved in these operations.
At least 84 people have been arrested as a consequence of the use of drone technology to aid cops on the ground trace suspects in the mining region.
During a shootout with the police, two suspects were killed, while a third suspect who was injured is now recovering in the hospital.
At today’s Krugersdorp Magistrates Court hearing, all accused are anticipated to show up.
They are accused of violating the Immigration Act and having allegedly stolen goods in their possession.
Cele applauded the widespread arrests. Criminals are being apprehended by police both on the ground and in the air, no matter where they are hiding.
We are changing the tide, since this neighbourhood has been loud about how criminals are making their life miserable there.
I am also pleased with the detective teams’ briefing on the development of the quick processing of biological evidence to connect some of the detained suspects to the rape of the young women, said Cele.
The Police Ministry stated that it is still inspired by the SAPS detectives’ hard attempts to secure a breakthrough.
The Ministry is still worried, nevertheless, that some media outlets are allegedly harassing the survivors of gang rape and pressuring them for interviews.
According to the Ministry, it opposes such behaviour because “families find it intrusive and inconsiderate during a terrible ordeal.”