Two women from an East London village were raped in the space of 10 days.One of the victims is an elderly deaf woman.
The second has accused the police officer whom she ran to for help of raping her.
Both incidents took place at Kuni village, 30km west of East London.
Villagers said the incident involving the police officer happened on December 26 when a woman was attacked by two men.
She ran for help and came across another two men.
“As she approached them, one of the supposedly good people allegedly raped her.
“He also allegedly told his friend that it was his turn to rape her but the friend refused,” said villager Noluthando Tafeni.
The police officer is allegedly from the same village.
On Wednesday, an elderly deaf woman who lives alone was raped at her house.
The victim’s neighbour, Ntombizakhe Matata, said she had heard a knock at her door in the early hours of Wednesday morning. She opened to find her neighbour at the door bleeding.
“She’s deaf. I couldn’t understand what she was talking about, it was difficult for her to explain. I later realised that she was raped and assaulted,” said Matata.
Both cases were reported to police and provincial police spokesman Lieutenant Khaya Tonjeni said they were under investigation.
“A case of rape was opened and is under investigation after an incident of rape was reported to have happened on December27.
“The matter and the docket has been handed over to the Independent Police Investigation Directorate for further handling since a police constable attached to the station is implicated,” said Tonjeni.
He said in the case of the deaf woman, police were following certain leads.
“According to police information, an unidentified suspect entered by kicking the door and entering the woman’s home.
“He then allegedly raped the victim and after that ran away.
“No arrest has been effected yet, but police are following all possible leads, and an arrest is eminent.”
Yesterday more than 30 women from the same village attended a meeting where they were addressed by community leaders on the two incidents.
Villagers said there were many other cases never reported to the police because the victims had been threatened they would be killed if they did so.
Community leader Zoliswa Matana said: “People are suffering in silence.
“We have silent cases here and we need an ear to listen.” — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Two women raped in 10 days
One of the victims is an elderly deaf woman.
The second has accused the police officer whom she ran to for help of raping her.
Both incidents took place at Kuni village, 30km west of East London.
Villagers said the incident involving the police officer happened on December 26 when a woman was attacked by two men.
She ran for help and came across another two men.
“As she approached them, one of the supposedly good people allegedly raped her.
“He also allegedly told his friend that it was his turn to rape her but the friend refused,” said villager Noluthando Tafeni.
The police officer is allegedly from the same village.
On Wednesday, an elderly deaf woman who lives alone was raped at her house.
The victim’s neighbour, Ntombizakhe Matata, said she had heard a knock at her door in the early hours of Wednesday morning. She opened to find her neighbour at the door bleeding.
“She’s deaf. I couldn’t understand what she was talking about, it was difficult for her to explain. I later realised that she was raped and assaulted,” said Matata.
Both cases were reported to police and provincial police spokesman Lieutenant Khaya Tonjeni said they were under investigation.
“A case of rape was opened and is under investigation after an incident of rape was reported to have happened on December27.
“The matter and the docket has been handed over to the Independent Police Investigation Directorate for further handling since a police constable attached to the station is implicated,” said Tonjeni.
He said in the case of the deaf woman, police were following certain leads.
“According to police information, an unidentified suspect entered by kicking the door and entering the woman’s home.
“He then allegedly raped the victim and after that ran away.
“No arrest has been effected yet, but police are following all possible leads, and an arrest is eminent.”
Yesterday more than 30 women from the same village attended a meeting where they were addressed by community leaders on the two incidents.
Villagers said there were many other cases never reported to the police because the victims had been threatened they would be killed if they did so.
Community leader Zoliswa Matana said: “People are suffering in silence.
“We have silent cases here and we need an ear to listen.” — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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