Armed men gang rape British woman on holiday in South Africa
The 29-year-old tourist and a 26-year-old man, believed to be the woman’s South African boyfriend, were approached by the gang while parked at a remote beauty spot in the Kruger National Park.
The couple were forced into the back of their Toyota Venture at gunpoint and driven around through the night while the woman was raped by the four men, the South African Police Service said.
Force spokeswoman Mary Martins-Englebrecht said the couple only managed to escape their attackers when one of the gang lost control of the car, and the vehicle overturned.
She said a passing motorist who stopped to help at the scene of the crash was shot in the head, allegedly by one of the gang, who then all fled the scene.
The motorist, 34-year-old Domingo Chamber, from Germiston, South Africa, died at the scene.
Two men have already been arrested in connection with the attack in the Mpumalanga province, while police have launched a major manhunt for the two remaining suspects.
Divisional Commissioner Johan de Beer said: “We condemn this incident in the strongest possible terms and will do whatever it takes to bring the suspects of this horrific crime to book.”
Ms Martins-Englebrecht said the British woman had been in South Africa on holiday, visiting her companion’s family in the town of Sabie, near the Kruger Park.
She said the couple’s ordeal began at around 2pm on November 16 when they took a day trip to the park and stopped at Long Tom Pass, a popular look point. They were approached by the gang and forced back into their car, before being driven 220km to Barberton through the night, while the woman was raped.
It was only at 4am on Sunday when the Toyota overturned around 28km from Barberton, that the couple managed to escape and alert police, she said.
A few hours later, detectives arrested two of the suspects just a few miles from the scene of the accident.
A wallet and mobile phone, believed to belong to the victim’s male companion, were recovered from one of them.
The men, aged 20 and 29, one from Nhlazatshe in Mpumalanga and the other from Zimbabwe, were taken to hospital with bullet wounds and head injuries.
They have been charged with armed robbery and are expected to appear before magistrates tomorrow.
Ms Martins-Englebrect said police were investigating the possibility of bringing further charges of kidnapping, rape, murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm against the men.
She said the British woman had now received counselling and had been given an AIDS test and anti-HIV drugs.
Her companion was treated for a stab wound to his leg and both are now back with the man’s family in Sabie, she added.
“They were very shocked and traumatised and not really in a position to give much information,” said Ms Martins-Englebrect.
“We have been arranging all the necessary counselling as that is the most important thing at this stage.”
She added that the beauty spot where the couple were abducted was not regarded as a particularly dangerous place, but said police had stepped up their patrols in the area.
