COMMUNITY members prevented a suspect from allegedly trying to rape a schoolgirl at the intersection of Phakamile Mabija Road and Cecil Sussman Road in Kimberley on Wednesday morning.
Eyewitnesses said that they saw the suspect grab the girl. “He threw her onto the bonnet of a bakkie that had stopped at a robot, where he proceeded to lift her skirt and kissed her on the neck.”
A security guard, Jaco Koen, said that he intervened when he heard the girl screaming.
“Other community members also assisted by pinning down the suspect when he grabbed my baton and tried to assault me. The girl appeared to be around 16 or 17 years old,” said Koen. “The suspect stated that he was from Cape Town and spoke English. He was of slender build and looked to be around the age of 25. He was later arrested and taken to the police station.”
Shaine Griqua, from the Shaine Griqua Advice and Development Centre, said that the girl was a Grade 11 pupil.
“The girl was walking to school with a friend to write her exams when the incident took place. It is shocking that this took place in broad daylight in the middle of the street during the 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence,” said Griqua.
He added that the girl was extremely traumatised after the incident but insisted on writing her exams.
“I provided her with transport to school and requested the principal and her teacher to monitor her as she has been through a terrible ordeal.”
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Dimakatso Mooi said that the police were investigating a case of attempted rape.
“The suspect allegedly tried to rape a girl who was on her way to school on Wednesday morning. The suspect, who is 19 years old, was arrested and is expected to appear in court soon. The investigation continues,” said Mooi.