North Durban support team to begin safety and awareness campaign after rape cases
The cases were reported in June and April this year and allegedly involved the spiking of drinks in restaurants or bars.
THE North Durban Victim Support Team has started an awareness campaign aiming to educate young people and parents about having fun while staying safe.
This comes after police confirmed two cases of rape reported in the uMhlanga Village area.
The cases were reported in June and April this year and allegedly involved the spiking of drinks in restaurants or bars.
The support team, in conjunction with the Durban North/uMhlanga CPF and Durban North SAPS, will be working together on the educational campaign to help keep young people safe.
Related article: uMhlanga rape case investigations ongoing
Sadiyya Haffajee, coordinator of the support team, said the intention of the campaign was to raise awareness of the potential dangers young people face on a night out.
She added that parents also need to be involved, knowing who their children are going with, where they are going, and patterns of movement through the evening.
“This has been prompted by the cases that were opened at the Durban North police station. We have been alerted to the fact that in most cases, it is alleged that drinks were spiked. We have also had reports where men’s drinks have been spiked, and they’ve been robbed of their valuables. Our biggest educational mission is to encourage people to never leave their drinks, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, unattended. We want to stop any form of sexual assault, rape and robbery from happening,” she explained.
Haffajee also urged residents to avoid naming and shaming alleged suspects and restaurants as this could damage the case.
“While we do feel the anger and share the devastation of what has happened in the reported cases, we have to allow the law to follow its course. Naming and shaming suspects can hurt the victim’s case in court,” she said.
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Jacqui Warren, a member of the victim support team, who has dealt with the victims of many of the cases, points out that given the harsh emotional and physical impact the victims have been subjected to, it is imperative that we do everything to ensure that we get justice for the victims.
While no arrests have yet been made in either case, it is understood that the Durban Central Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit are investigating the cases.
