PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Action by community members in Kwanokuthula has led to the arrest of an alleged rapist near the Grassmere Toll Plaza in Gauteng.

According to the leader of the Non-aligned Civic Movement, Welcome Tshala, the alleged rape took place in Kwanokuthula early on Monday 2 February.

It is alleged that the suspect drugged the 19-year-old victim before raping her. A case was opened at the Kwanokuthula Police Station on Monday 2 February.

Thsala informed the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) that it was believed the suspect had left Plettenberg Bay on a bus heading for Johannesburg.

The bus on which the suspect was travelling was intercepted just before the Grassmere Toll Plaza in Gauteng and the suspect was arrested.

Mobilised
Tshala said he had received a voice note at 06:54 on Monday morning asking for his assistance in arresting the suspect. 

"I immediately contacted someone from DCIS to assist and forwarded him the case num-ber, photo of the suspect and a cellphone number of the driver of the bus on which the suspect was travelling.

The warrant officer immediately mobilised his colleagues and the suspect was arrested before the bus could reach Grassmere Toll Plaza," said Tshala.

Western Cape police spokesperson Lt Col Malcolm Pojie confirmed on Tuesday 10 February that a 33-year-old man who allegedly raped a 19-year-old female was arrested on 9 February in connection with the alleged rape on 2 February.

The suspect was expected to appear in the Plettenberg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday 10 February on a charge of rape.

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