A 15-YEAR-OLD girl opened a case of rape at the Westville SAPS after she was allegedly raped by a fellow gym member at the Westville Virgin Active Health Club on Saturday.
The accused club member was immediately suspended from the club pending the outcome of an investigation.
According to Captain Stephen Clark, the spokesman for the Westville SAPS, the teenager said she had allegedly been taken to a toilet in the gym by a man and raped.
The incident was said to have taken place during the day.
“She confessed the incident shortly after to her mother who was waiting for her outside the gym,” said Clark.
The girl, who can’t be named to protect her identity, opened the case a the local police station and was taken to a district surgeon for examination.
Clark noted that the docket has since been handed over to the Pinetown Cluster Forensic Sexual Crimes Unit for investigation.
“The management of the Virgin Active Gym have cooperated completely with the family of the teenager as well as the SAPS investigators, who are examining all factors and evidence regarding the matter before an arrest can be made,” said Clark.
The management at the gym are also conducting an internal investigation and will share all of the findings with the SAPS.
“We acknowledge this is an extremely sensitive case and due to its nature and the age of the victim, and the privacy of the family, we are not going to be able to publish a minute by minute graphic account of the investigation. We are confident that justice will prevail,” said Clark.
Virgin Active confirmed that an incident took place between two members at the Westville Health Club on Saturday 16 August.
“The matter was immediately reported to the SAPS and full details of the alleged perpetrator were released to the SAPS officers handling the case.
“Virgin Active is co-operating fully with the senior officers and the family concerned, who have our full support and access to senior club and head office management at all times,” said Les Aupiais, head of Strategic Communications for Virgin Active.
She said the health group had also offered the family counselling, which they accepted.
“At this stage, because of the sensitive nature of the incident and to safeguard the privacy of the member and her family, we are unable to provide any further details.
“However, we can say that the club is extensively covered by CCTV cameras, which assisted in identifying the man and should prove invaluable as the investigation continues.”
