Eight men have been arrested for allegedly gang raping three female security guards at the Transport Department in Pretoria on Monday night.
According to the police, the suspects, aged between 20 and 40, entered the premises of the department under the pretext of looking for a toilet. They then overpowered the security guards, who were on duty at the time, and took turns raping them at gunpoint.
The suspects also robbed the victims of their cellphones, cash, and other personal belongings, before fleeing the scene. The security guards managed to alert their colleagues, who called the police and the paramedics.
The police launched a manhunt for the suspects, and with the help of CCTV footage and intelligence information, they were able to track them down and arrest them within 24 hours. The police also recovered some of the stolen items and two firearms that were used in the crime.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, facing charges of rape, robbery, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The police said that they were investigating the possibility that the suspects were involved in other similar crimes in the area.
The provincial commissioner of the police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, commended the swift action of the police and the cooperation of the public in apprehending the suspects. He said that the police would not tolerate such heinous acts of violence against women and children, and would ensure that the perpetrators face the full might of the law.
The Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, also condemned the incident and expressed his sympathy and support for the victims. He said that he was appalled by the barbaric attack on the security guards, who were performing their essential service of protecting the department’s assets and personnel.
He said that he had instructed the department to provide the victims with counselling and any other assistance they may need. He also urged the justice system to deal harshly with the suspects and send a strong message that rape and gender-based violence have no place in society.
