Two suspects are currently in police custody on separate alleged gender-based violence (GBV) incidents in Hermanus. They were arrested following reports of women allegedly being assaulted in public before swift intervention by Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) officers in the two unrelated incidents.

The first incident reportedly took place shortly after midnight on Saturday 16 May. This is according to Marius Boshoff, the Hermanus Branch Manager for Fidelity ADT. An HPP CCTV operator spotted a man and woman arguing in public where the woman appeared injured.

“The operator immediately notified the nearest HPP SRU officer as well as police,” Boschoff said. “The police arrived on [the] scene first whereby the male tried to run away.” A nearby HPP SRU officer successfully pursued the suspect and detained him before handing him over to police, who were conducting an interview with the woman at the scene.

“It is alleged that the couple had an argument and the male assaulted the female.” Boschoff added. “He stopped her when she was trying to go to the police station to open a case.”

The suspect was arrested on a GBV related charge. In an unrelated incident that took place on Monday 18 May, the HPP control room receved reports of a man allegedly assaulting a woman with a stick. The incident took place in the Hermanus CBD.

“HPP control immediately dispatched foot patrollers and the nearest SRU officer. On arrival, they managed to stop the assault,” said Boschoff. The woman had reportedly indicated that she wanted to open a case against the suspect. Police were contacted and both individuals were escorted to the police station, where the male suspect was arrested for assault.

Boschoff praised the efforts of HPP members involved in both incidents. “We are incredibly proud of all HPP members and I would like to thank them for their hard work and efforts,” he said.

HPP is a non-profit company which provides public safety in designated areas of Hermanus.