Man allegedly rapes young woman he befriended on Facebook
He threatened to circulate the recordings he made on social media platforms should the incident be reported.
The danger of a Facebook acquaintance turning abusive came to light this past week.
Detectives from Standerton Family Violence and Child Protection and Sexual Offences arrested Tshepo Nxumalo (23) in connection with the rape.
According to the police report, a young girl received a Facebook invite on March 25 from a man. His profile identified him as Tshepo Nxumalo Collapse and she accepted his invitation.
She said the man told her he would buy her a ‘kota’ (bunny chow) when they meet. The police said the man gave the victim the location where they would meet.
According to a SAPS statement in Mpumalanga, he allegedly raped her next to the mountain in Standerton.
She had her one-year-old child with her and upon arrival at their meeting place, the suspect allegedly convinced the woman to accompany him to fetch his little brother on the mountaintop.
It is alleged he assaulted her and threatened to hit her with a brick when she refused sexual intercourse in an abandoned building.
The police said she was raped in front of her child, while the perpetrator recorded a video using his cellphone. It is believed the suspect threatened to circulate the recordings on social media platforms if she would report the incident.
The accused fled the scene, and the victim reported the rape to the police. The woman was examined in a hospital, where a sexual assault crime kit was used.
Nxumalo was spotted in Standerton and apprehended on March 28. He appeared in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court the next day, facing two counts of rape, as well as common assault.
His case was postponed to April 13 for a formal bail application and he remains in custody.
Police management warned the public to use social media platforms cautiously to prevent a situation that might place their lives at risk.
They also encouraged parents to monitor their children’s use of social media to curb similar incidents. Station commander Colonel Josias Africa praised the investigation done by the FCS detectives.
The Standerton Advertiser did a Google search and found that social networks are described as being full of dangers, with possible enormous consequences for an individual or their business.
Networks, as described in a digital guide, should be used carefully to avoid many pitfalls.
The following advice is provided:
• Set up the privacy settings so that only friends have access to your posts.
• Avoid posting personal information such as holiday plans.
• Do not accept requests or messages from people you don’t know.
• Avoid clicking on shortened URLs.
• Report suspicious or insulting/threatening accounts.
• Keep private and work accounts separate.
• Businesses should consider social media training for employees, especially on data security.
