Durban — The identikits of seven men alleged to have raped five women in separate incidents have been released by the Brighton Beach Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS), which asked for the public’s assistance in locating them, with the hope of effecting arrests.
Information attached to one of the identikits was that two unknown men, in July, travelling in a white Toyota Quantum, stopped the vehicle and allegedly raped and robbed a woman at knife point in Cato Manor.
In Umbilo in August another woman was raped by two unknown men who had dragged her to a quiet area and took turns in raping her.
Another woman was raped the same month, also in Umbilo, where she was approached by a man who “strangled her at knife point, dragged her into the bushes and raped her”.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala confirmed that three charges of rape were laid at Cato Manor, Montclair and Umbilo after three females, aged between 22 and 42, were raped.
“The incidents took place at different areas between July 15 to August 24 2022. The matter is being investigated by Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.”
In the same month in Umbilo a 14-year-old was raped by five men. She was only able to give police a description of one of the men who had been wearing a blue durag. Gwala said gang rape took place on August 12 in Prospect Road, Umbilo Park.
“The docket was transferred to the Brighton Beach FCS Unit for further investigation.”
In August an elderly woman was sexually assaulted at her residence in Montclair by an unknown man who had been travelling in a silver-blue Isuzu 4X4 bakkie.
It was reported that after the man – described as well-built, estimated to be aged between 56 to 59, and light in complexion – entered the residence, he struck up a conversation with the elderly woman.
“And eventually he sexually assaulted her,” reads the identikit information.
Police urged anyone who can assist in the investigation to contact Brighton Beach FCS unit investigators Detective Sergeant SJ Flynn at 082 930 8615, Detective Sergeant Buthelezi at 072 563 1273 and Detective Sergeant ZP Zuma at 084 906 0644.
Renegades Search & Rescue, a private crime-fighting group, shared the identikits of the men on social media, hoping someone would be able to recognise them.
Team leader Dawn Gounden said that they worked closely with police not only in finding wanted suspects but in missing persons cases, unidentified human remains cases and cases concerning trafficked persons.
Daily News