A woman was raped on her way to church in Marlboro, while another two were cornered on the street and raped as well, prompting police to issue a warning.
Police in Alexandra have warned residents, especially unaccompanied women and young girls, to avoid using the pedestrian bridge that crosses the Jukskei River into Marlboro.
This follows numerous incidents of women and young girls being waylaid by criminals who pounce on them and then rob and rape them in the areas close to the Gautrain and around Violet Crescent and Zinnia Drive in Marlboro Gardens.
Most of the victims are said be to women and young girls from Alexandra either coming from or going into Marlboro using the pedestrian bridge.
“We urge residents, especially unaccompanied women and young girls to avoid using this route day or night,” Maphakela said.
In some of the recent incidents, a 35-year-old woman who lives in Silvertown along Violet Crescent in Marlboro was waiting for a taxi when she was approached by a gun-toting man who demanded money and cellphones from her.
As the victim was taking out the items, the suspect then ordered that she go with him, claiming there was some information he wanted about Silvertown. As they were walking, the suspect whistled and his companion came out from hiding in the nearby bushes.
The armed suspect ordered the woman and the suspect hold each other’s hands and walk casually as if nothing was wrong so they did not raise concern from residents.
They proceeded to the pedestrian bridge to cross into Ext 7 in Alex. When they got to the bridge, the armed suspect ordered the woman to take off her panties and he raped her. After the ordeal, he ordered the victim to stay put “as I am still going to rob other people”.
Another complainant, a 27-year-old woman from Ext 7 in Alex, was approached by a man while walking to her workplace along Zinnia Road in Marlboro Gardens. He asked for directions to Setswetla. She then left him standing there and continued on her way, but when she turned around a while later to check, the man was following her. He then ran towards her and took out a knife and grabbed hold of her arm and dragged her to nearby bushes. He undressed himself first before undressing and raping the woman and then running away.
In the third incident, a 14-year-old girl residing in Gallo Manor in Sandton, was on her way to church along Zinnia Road in Marlboro Gardens when she passed a man whom she greeted but who did not answer back.
After a few paces, she turned and looked back and saw the very same man coming up behind her. Without saying a word, he pulled her dress up and a struggle ensued. The teen was eventually overpowered and he raped her. The suspect then took off at speed with the victim’s handbag.
The victim also quickly got up and gave chase and pointed the suspect out to another man. The suspect was eventually apprehended with the assistance of yet another man and handed over to the police – but not before a good hiding from his captors.
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