Umbilo man in the dock for repeatedly raping stranded woman

AN Umbilo man appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 8 April on charges of rape after he lured a woman into his Umbilo home where he repeatedly raped her. 

On 8 August 2020, the man (54) approached the woman when an ATM machine swallowed her bank card, leaving her stranded with no money to pay for a taxi to get home. The man was arrested on Thursday morning (8 April). 

Provincial spokesperson for the SAPS, Captain Nqobile Gwala said the man offered to help the woman.

“A 26-year-old female found herself stranded in the Durban CBD after an ATM machine swallowed her bank card while attempting to withdraw cash.”

“She had no money to return to her home in Umlazi and was approached by a 54-year-old man who noticed that she was in need of help and offered her a lift home,” said Gwala.

Also read: Durban court convicts teenager of raping young boy

According to Gwala, the man quickly turned on the woman, forcing her into his Umbilo home.

“When she noticed that the suspect was taking a different route, she questioned him. The suspect claimed that the vehicle he was driving had a problem and therefore he needed to take another vehicle from his home in Umbilo.”

“When they got into his yard, the suspect threatened the victim with his dogs and forced her inside his house where he repeatedly raped her,” she said.

Also read: Wanted suspect sought by Brighton Beach police for rape, robbery

Gwala said the man then took the woman back to town and drove away after giving her cash for transport.

“The victim reported the incident at Umbilo police station and the docket was transferred to the Brighton Beach Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation. An intensive investigation led to the arrest of the suspect in the early hours of the morning,” said Gwala.

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