YOUNG women seeking work have been warned to be vigilant and careful by Montclair SAPS. as rapists are targeting them by promising job opportunities.
In a recent case, W/O Govender, Cnsts Ndlovu and Ntombela were patrolling the area on 25 January when they noticed a man walking along Blamey Road with a young woman.
The officers approached the couple and questioned the woman as to where they were going. She told them the man had promised her work at Transnet. The officers became suspicious of the story and took the couple to the station where they interviewed the man.
The family and child protection unit (FCS) was called in and also interviewed the man “Through the interviews the members managed to link him to a rape that occurred on 4 January, using the same modus operandi,” said communication officer, W/O Poobalan Marimuthu.
He was arrested and charged for rape and attempted rape. FCS is investigating the case.
Last year, a woman fell victim to the same crime when she was raped opposite the cemetery on Higginson Highway. She was sweet-talked by a man who approached her in Clairwood, offering her an admin job. He made it more believable when he let her talk to a woman that she was supposed to meet about the job. Belinda Harcombe, volunteer at the Montclair SAPS Friendly Victim Unit advises women that if it seems too good to be true then it probably is. “Don’t fall for job offers in the streets by men or women – it is not safe nor wise,” she said.
Brenda Neal, manager of Montclair SAPS Victim Friendly Unit, said women responding to job offers should never go alone, even if they maintained contact and built a relationship with someone via social media. “If they are told they will be taken to meet the boss then warning bells should go off immediately,” said Neal.
Should they become victims of rape, they must report it straight away. “Your body is evidence in such a case, and if it is not reported immediately, the rapist will be free to continue raping other women. In a rape you are the victim and you need to get medical assistance with regards to treating sexual diseases and AIDS treatment as a precaution as well as trauma counseling,” she added.
The public is urged to inform the police if they were confronted with the same scenario.
“The Montclair SAPS management commend the members for being alert and vigilant,” added W/O Marimuthu.
