The Madeira Police have apprehended a 35-year-old male suspect following a harrowing incident of sexual assault and firearm possession in Slovo Park outside Mthatha. The arrest took place on January 27, 2024, around 23:00.
According to reports, the suspect allegedly raped a 21-year-old female victim at gunpoint after offering her a lift while she was hitchhiking her way to Dosi locality near Mthatha. The victim recounted being coerced into the suspect’s black/navy vehicle, which was then driven to his residence in Slovo Park.
Once there, the suspect allegedly forced the victim into a bedroom where the heinous assault occurred. Following the ordeal, the suspect purportedly returned the victim to town without fulfilling her intended destination. Subsequently, the victim bravely reported the incident to the Madeira police station, detailing the use of a firearm to threaten her during the assault.
Acting swiftly on the information provided, authorities apprehended the 35-year-old suspect, who was found in possession of a 9mm pistol and ammunition.
The suspect appeared before the Mthatha Magistrate court on Monday, January 29, 2024, facing charges of rape and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for continued vigilance and decisive action to combat gender-based violence and illegal firearm possession within our communities. The authorities remain steadfast in their commitment to ensuring justice for the victim and holding perpetrators of such heinous crimes accountable for their actions.
