This past weekend, desperate women and children living at the Randfontein dumping site walked to the Women Against Women and Child Abuse Shelter (Wawa) to find refuge.
A Wawa employee spoke to the women this morning (3 October), who told her what had happened and why they now prefer to live in the Toekomsrus Community Hall.
One of them said that on Friday, 29 September, a woman was allegedly raped and a child was robbed. The suspects tried to rape another woman, but she fended them off.
Also Read: Randfontein baby rape and murder case: Accused father flees before judgement
Another resident said she is heartbroken, and that these crimes have been prevalent for the last three years. The women have opened various cases, but according to her, nothing ever comes of it.
She said that police did attend to the matter on Friday and that there was an alleged shooting, but they do not get the help they need. According to her, police have patrols at the dumping site, but only during the day. Most of the crimes are committed at night.
“We need protection, and we need those suspects to be removed and dealt with. We cannot do it alone, we are too few and they are too many,” she added.
Enrico Bhana from Wawa sent the following message to the community: “As to what has been happening right under our noses to our fellow brothers and sisters, women and children are now being hosted at our local community hall because they do not have anywhere to go to on a rainy and windy evening like last night.
“As an organisation we condemn violence in all its forms and we ask for interventions by politicians, faith-based organisations, NGOs, leaders and the community at large.”
The Randfontein Herald is awaiting comment from the Randfontein Police regarding these incidents.
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