Schoolkids accosted and stripped naked in bushy area near school.
A SHORT-CUT to school through a bushy area of King William’s Town turned into a nightmare experience for three teens when a man armed with an axe accosted them, stripped them naked and raped one.
The 15-year-old Grade 8 rape survivor was walking with two friends to West Bank School yesterday when the man with the axe confronted them and demanded cellphones and money.
A nearby resident, Mathabo Hendricks-Mnyataza, said it was just after 7am when she heard screams and loud bangs on her door.
“When I opened the door, I was horrified when I saw a boy in his underwear and a girl with a plastic bag around her waist. I asked them what happened and they told me their schoolmate was being held in the bushes by a man with an axe.”
Armed with knobkieries, Mnyataza’s two sons raced off to search for the girl but could not find her.
“I immediately alerted the police and the school,” she said.
Teachers also joined the search and the young girl was soon discovered, still naked. Her attacker had fled after raping her.
Police spokeswoman Lieutenant Siphokazi Mawisa said a helicopter, the Flying Squad and the K9 Dog Unit launched a manhunt but had no success.
“They told him they did not have cellphones and one of the pupils said he had R10,” Mnyataza said.
“Shivering with fear they then told me the man ordered them to take off their clothes.”
Mnyataza said the man apparently told the boy and one girl to walk away as he dragged the second girl deeper into the bushes.
They said he threatened to cut their throats if they turned to look.
Principal Bram Hill said staff and pupils at school were deeply shocked and hurt. They were aware of dangers lurking in the bushes around the school but he never expected such a horrific incident.
“Our pupils frequently get robbed by people who hide in these bushes, but what happened today has traumatised the school.”
Hill said they had been trying for years to get the metro to clear the bushes. “I have been here for three years and not once has any bush been cleared in this area. Our children have been mugged often and now this. We have warned pupils not to walk through the bushes and rather take the longer route on the tarred road but they did not listen.”
Amanda Mangali, in Grade 12, said she was almost raped there in November last year by two men with knives. “One of the men was already pulling me into the bushes and was touching my private parts when the other one stopped him. I ran as fast as I could,” said Mangali.
Another Grade 12 pupil said she was robbed of her cellphone after Saturday classes in February.
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi said the metro would find out why the bushes had not been cleared.
Anyone who can assist the police in tracing the suspect can contact Detective Major Sandile Mahobe on 0796738380 or 0436040163. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
Axe-wielding man rapes teen
A SHORT-CUT to school through a bushy area of King William’s Town turned into a nightmare experience for three teens when a man armed with an axe accosted them, stripped them naked and raped one.
The 15-year-old Grade 8 rape survivor was walking with two friends to West Bank School yesterday when the man with the axe confronted them and demanded cellphones and money.
A nearby resident, Mathabo Hendricks-Mnyataza, said it was just after 7am when she heard screams and loud bangs on her door.
“When I opened the door, I was horrified when I saw a boy in his underwear and a girl with a plastic bag around her waist. I asked them what happened and they told me their schoolmate was being held in the bushes by a man with an axe.”
Armed with knobkieries, Mnyataza’s two sons raced off to search for the girl but could not find her.
“I immediately alerted the police and the school,” she said.
Teachers also joined the search and the young girl was soon discovered, still naked. Her attacker had fled after raping her.
Police spokeswoman Lieutenant Siphokazi Mawisa said a helicopter, the Flying Squad and the K9 Dog Unit launched a manhunt but had no success.
“They told him they did not have cellphones and one of the pupils said he had R10,” Mnyataza said.
“Shivering with fear they then told me the man ordered them to take off their clothes.”
Mnyataza said the man apparently told the boy and one girl to walk away as he dragged the second girl deeper into the bushes.
They said he threatened to cut their throats if they turned to look.
Principal Bram Hill said staff and pupils at school were deeply shocked and hurt. They were aware of dangers lurking in the bushes around the school but he never expected such a horrific incident.
“Our pupils frequently get robbed by people who hide in these bushes, but what happened today has traumatised the school.”
Hill said they had been trying for years to get the metro to clear the bushes. “I have been here for three years and not once has any bush been cleared in this area. Our children have been mugged often and now this. We have warned pupils not to walk through the bushes and rather take the longer route on the tarred road but they did not listen.”
Amanda Mangali, in Grade 12, said she was almost raped there in November last year by two men with knives. “One of the men was already pulling me into the bushes and was touching my private parts when the other one stopped him. I ran as fast as I could,” said Mangali.
Another Grade 12 pupil said she was robbed of her cellphone after Saturday classes in February.
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi said the metro would find out why the bushes had not been cleared.
Anyone who can assist the police in tracing the suspect can contact Detective Major Sandile Mahobe on 0796738380 or 0436040163. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
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