Three male suspects between the ages of 21 and 22 were detained by the Taxi Violence Unit of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) for rape in the Johannesburg Central Business District.
On Monday, February 13, 2023, while making crime prevention patrols on Loveday Street between Lilian Ngoyi and Plein Street, officers were accosted by six ladies who told them that their friend was locked in a neighbouring apartment and that the security guard would not let them in without police presence.
Fihla said that “The officers gathered further information as to why and how the ladies’ friend was trapped in the flat, and from the information received, one of the ladies alluded that she and two friends were with three men the previous night. They had a few drinks, but soon after her friends began behaving strangely.
“She alleged that she saw her friends having sexual intercourse with all three men that were present at the flat. She further indicated that when she tried to wake her friends up they did not respond, but later one of her friends managed to wake up at about 3 am and asked to be accompanied out of the flat,” Fihla detailed.
When they returned to get their friend who left in the apartment, they were refused entry.
Fihla said that “one of the alleged victims explained that she only agreed to have sexual intercourse with one male and not the friends, and she doesn’t recall having sexual intercourse with the other two friends. She alleged that her friend was the one who informed her that she had sexual intercourse with all three men at the flat.”
He said that the police escorted the women to the aforementioned apartment on Kerk and City Hall Street. Based on the ladies’ description of the three men, the security guard gave them access and the caretaker took them to their room.
“Upon their arrival at the room, the officers found one male sitting on the couch with the alleged victim. When the girl saw her friends she broke down and started crying. The officers took the girl to the bedroom and she informed them that she only gave consent to have sexual intercourse with one male not all of them, and she does not recall having sexual intercourse with the other males (suspects).
She further explained that when she woke up, she requested to go home, but the male refused and told her that she will be taken to Alexandra because the owner of the flat and his significant other were returning shortly,” he said.
“The male informed the officers that his friends had gone out and that they’ll be returning soon. The male’s friends returned and upon their arrival, they were identified by the witness. The three suspects arrested and detained at Johannesburg Central SAP where a case docket was opened for further investigation. The officers took the 18 and 22-year-old victims to Garden City Hospital, where a rape kit was administered and blood tests were conducted,” Fihla further explained.
»The JMPD Taxi Violence Unit arrest three male suspects for rape in the Johannesburg CBD«