Ivory Park woman raped in a taxi
MIDRAND – An Ivory Park woman was raped by an occupant of a white taxi on her way to the police station to report her boyfriend for assault.
A woman who was running away from her abusive boyfriend in the wee hours of the morning was allegedly raped by an occupant of a white taxi in Ivory Park who had offered her a lift to the police station.
The 30-year-old woman was on her way to the Ivory Park Police Station on at 1am on 9 April to lay an assault charge against her boyfriend when a white Inyathi taxi stopped and offered her a lift. However, the taxi, with two male occupants changed direction and parked in an isolated area where one of the men allegedly raped her.
A case of rape has been opened by the Ivory Park police and handed to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in the Ekurhuleni North Cluster for further investigation.
Read GUIDE: Rape statistics in South Africa
Acting station commander of the Ivory Park police, Colonel Baba Mpotoane said he was shocked that someone who had just been physically abused and traumatised, had to be violated in that manner by people who saw her plight and need for help.
“We as the police are ready to drive to every corner of this area to attend to whatever problem that may have occurred. Taking long trips to the police station may turn out to be dangerous for victims of crime, as this incident clearly illustrated,” said Mpotoane.
As part of precautionary safety measures, the police advised residents to get to know their neighbours so that if and when a victim finds themselves in a domestic tussle with their partners, they have a place to run to when they need to summon help from the police.
“Also know the local number of your police station and all other emergency police numbers,” added Mpotoane.
Details: Ivory Park Police Station 011 990 9618.
Edited by Ingrid Pepler
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