Two young women were kidnapped and raped after being lured by the suspects to ride with them. The Free State provincial commissioner has since issued a warning following the two disturbing incidents of kidnapping and rape.
A 19-year-old college student was approached by an unknown man in Christoliet Street in Jan Cilliers Park, Welkom, on her way to her classes.
The man, driving a grey Mazda 3, approached her, claiming his child was missing and the kidnappers matched her description.
He alleged that the kidnappers were demanding a R50 000 ransom and he convinced her to enter the vehicle. He drove her close to the Masimong mine where he raped her and gave her R50 to take a taxi home.
The suspect is described as tall, slender, light-skinned, with a missing front tooth and a scar on his chest. He wore a dark blue suit and spoke Sesotho.
In a separate incident on 9 November, a girl walking home from Sylvania Spar in Jan Cilliers Park accepted a lift from a white male driving a white Mahindra bakkie.
During the journey towards the traffic department, the driver assaulted her but she managed to escape when the car was nearing her residence. She reported the incident.
The police are asking girls to refrain from entering vehicles driven by strangers. If feeling threatened, scream for help to attract the attention of passersby.
The two kidnapping and rape cases are under investigation.
Anyone with information can contact Sgt Lehlohonolo Fonya of the Welkom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit on 071-679-0988 or Crime Stop at 08600-10111.
