A 43-year-old truck driver was arrested in Middleburg soon after he allegedly raped a hitchhiker after picking her up in Kariega on May 8.
According to police spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu, at about 15:40 the 23-year-old was in the truck with a few other passengers.
She said once the truck driver offloaded the other passengers in Jansenville, she continued her ride alone with the driver.
“About 30km from Graaff-Reinet on the Jansenville road at a resting spot, the truck driver threatened the woman with a firearm and raped her,” said Naidu.
She said the woman was dropped off in Graaff-Reinet where she alerted police.
Naidu said swift follow up investigation by SAPS Graaff-Reinet Operational Command Centre (OCC) and Vispol members, led to the speedy arrest of the truck driver in Middelburg.
“The driver was arrested whilst on route to Colesberg. He was detained on a charge of rape,” said Naidu.
Sarah Baartman District Commissioner, Maj Gen Zolani Xawuka commended the police members for their immediate action and apprehension of the suspect.
“The SAPS would like to warn women of the dangers of hitchhiking as they can easily fall prey to robberies, rape, human trafficking or even murder,” said Xawuka.
“The ride is not always free, and hitchhiking can be dangerous either for the driver who stops to pick up strangers as there is a possibility that they can be hijacked of their vehicle and belongings while at the same time hitchhiking just for a lift can also pose a danger similar to this case.
“Never hitchhike as this places your safety in danger.”
