By Doreen Mokgolo
A 22-year-old woman living with a mental disability was kidnapped and gang raped by a group of four men in Duduza, Ekurhuleni on Thursday.
The rape victim was walking home from her boyfriend’s home when she was cornered by the four suspects – men who are known to her.
They took her to one of the abandoned houses in the area known to harbour stolen goods and criminals in the area.
They allegedly drugged her with alcohol and continued to rape her overnight.
The victim’s uncle, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, said the family was concerned when they could not locate her.
He said she had been seen with her boyfriend, who is also mentally impaired, earlier in the day.
“He told us she left just after the area load shed and was heading to her home. Witnesses also told us they saw her walking home.
“We carried out an overnight search but couldn’t find her anywhere.”
He said the victim turned up in the morning disoriented and traumatised, with her clothes torn.
She relayed her ordeal to the family, who immediately took her to the police and hospital where it was confirmed that she had been raped.
The uncle said everyone in the area knows she is intellectually impaired and she is friendly with everyone.
“They took advantage of her, thinking she could not remember what happened to her, and for that they have to be locked away,” he said.
Duduza police spokesperson Sergeant Nothando Mahlangu confirmed that they are investigating a case of rape and kidnapping.
“The four suspects have been arrested and will be appearing before the Nigel Magistrate’s Court,” she said.
Nomasomi Limako, a human rights activist for people with disabilities, demands justice for the victim.
“Women living with disabilities, especially those who are intellectually impaired, get abused and raped because it is believed that they will fail to narrate the incident to the police and the matter will be thrown out of court.
“We will fight until the perpetrators are sentenced accordingly,” she said.
Mahlangu said the police receive a spike of criminal cases during load shedding, especially at night, as criminals take advantage of the dark.
“We are calling on residents to employ safety and security measures and not to walk alone at night,” she said.
