UPDATE: DA follows up on Mamelodi gang rape case
DA says Mamelodi police are dragging their feet in a highly-publicised gang rape case.
The DA in the north said it is disappointed by the police’s inept handling of a recent Mamelodi gang rape.
Party north chairperson Abel Tau said the woman’s alleged rapists were well known in the community. However, police were stalling their investigation.
“The names have been given to the police and we don’t believe that it should take this long to arrest the perpetrators,” said Tau.
Tau made the remarks made the remarks during a visit with the woman’s family on Tuesday.
A few weeks ago a 39-year-old woman reported she was gang-raped in Mamelodi West.
ALSO READ: Mamelodi women see red over tavern gang rape
The victim had reportedly asked for a lift home from a group of about five men outside a tavern where she had been. Instead of taking her to her destination, she was drugged and gang-raped in a back room in Mamelodi East.
The woman spent a few days in hospital before being discharged to recuperate at home.
A few days after the alleged rape, residents – led by the ANC Women’s League – marched to the police station to demand the arrest of the suspects.
The marchers told police the men had admitted to intercourse with the woman. The protesters also handed police used condoms allegedly found at the scene as evidence.
“The police are supposed to arrest the suspects when the residents alerted them to the incident on Sunday,” a protester said.
Protesters also alleged that one of the rape suspects is related to an officer at the station.
They also claimed that while the suspects were taken to the police station, they were not arrested and neither was a case opened.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: East residents demand arrest of ‘gang rapists’
A relative of the woman claimed police had since the protest taken a statement from the victim, but no arrests have been made.
Tau said he had written to the provincial police commissioner demanding answers in the case.
He said the DA would support the family “until justice prevailed”.
“The wheels of justice are grinding too slow,” he said. “It is our call as the Democratic Alliance to stand with the family and fight until these people are arrested.”
“We will also continue to support the woman’s family in court.”
Police could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
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