A victim of assault took to social media last week expressing her anger at police after they failed to arrest the man who allegedly assaulted her at Loudoun Lane in Morningside on 24 June.
Miranda Lumka Jacobs said she was allegedly beaten up by a man [name withheld] after an argument in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Miranda Lumka Jacobs speaks to Sandton Chronicle following an incident of assault in Morningside.
Jacobs said that she had given money to some of his friends to pay for their transport to the apartment after they arrived. When he refused to pay her back, an argument ensued.
“He started kicking me out the apartment and smashed a glass in my face and continued to beat me until I blacked out. When I woke up, he closed the door and wouldn’t let me out the apartment… He asked how much money he could give me to keep quiet,” claimed Jacobs.
Jacobs said that when she eventually got out of the apartment, she began knocking on neighbours’ doors until someone called the police.
“When the police arrived, I asked the two officers if they were going to arrest him and they laughed in my face.”
“They said they wouldn’t arrest him because we were under the influence of alcohol.” After being hospitalised for a few days and receiving no contact from police, Jacobs took to social media.
Miranda Lumka Jacobs is still recovering after she alleged she was assaulted in Morningside and sustained injuries to her face and head. Photo: Supplied
On 27 June, Jacobs named and shamed the suspect on Facebook, appealing to media, the police and organisations against gender-based violence to hear her case.
She said, “I feel very violated by the SAPS. Where else am I supposed to run to if they won’t let me? Do I have to be in a body bag to be taken seriously?”
Soon afterwards, Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula, asked for her contact details and sent officials to hear her case.
Sandton police spokesperson David Mothapo said a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm had been opened and is under investigation, but the suspect is still at large. Mothapo said a case has not been opened against the police officers who arrived at the scene.
Jacobs says she is frustrated that police did not arrest the suspect immediately and fears he will flee the country. “I just hope they find him. He is a danger to society. I am petrified that he will find me in the street and finish me off.”
Jacobs has since been contacted by the suspect’s ex-fiancée, Tebogo Mohlaka, who claimed she had been abused during a four-year relationship with him.
Speaking to the Sandton Chronicle, Mohlaka alleged, “We went out for two years before he started abusing me. It began when I was pregnant with his child and he began slapping me.”
“It became more and more regular and there wasn’t a month that I wasn’t assaulted. I was once hospitalised due to injuries and when I tried to leave him, he would lock me in the house and make me feel like it was my fault.”
“I loved him and hoped he would change until he came to my workplace in Linden and beat me there and I laid charges against him.”
Jacobs weighed in and added, “This guy is still out there and could hurt and manipulate other girls. I don’t feel a bit of justice yet. It’s not the first time he’s doing this, but it is the last. I won’t give up until he is behind bars.” She hopes that he will be arrested or deported back to his home country.
Jacobs is thankful for the support of friends and organisations, including the Reeva Rebecca Steenkamp Foundation and People Opposing Women Abuse who have provided support to her.
Miranda Lumka Jacobs posted photos of herself on Facebook after her assault on 24 June.
The hashtag #JusticeForMiranda has been created to generate comment on the incident and Jacobs has created a Facebook page named ‘Ndikhusele’ (Protect Me) for victims of assault and domestic violence who feel too afraid to voice their struggles.
The suspect lived in Fourways before the incident took place.
If you have seen these posts on social media and know of any information that could help this case, please contact the Sandton police on 011 722 4200.
