BLOEMFONTEIN – A 30-year-old man arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 27-year-old woman in Willows, Bloemfontein, is reported to be a member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). His arrest followed public outrage after angry community members attacked him, apparently in defence of the woman.
Police said the incident occurred in King Edward Street at about 16:20 on Wednesday 16 September. The suspect was set to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Friday 18 September, a day after his arrest. A community member filmed the incident. In a viral video circulating on social media, the woman can be seen struggling with the suspect, while members of the public who witnessed the scene can be heard reacting angrily.
Lt Col Thabo Covane, provincial police spokesperson, said the angry crowd attacked the suspect, including officers who responded to the scene to quell the violence. He said investigations were under way into three cases. Two cases were against the suspect.
Covane said the woman opened a case of sexual assault and attempted robbery against the suspect. A second case docket registered by the police against the man was for contravention of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 – failure to keep a firearm safe in the prescribed manner. He said a third case docket for public violence, malicious damage to property, and assault on a police officer was opened following attacks on officers by angry community members.
In the video, the woman, wearing a full-length pink dress, can be heard screaming in distress and seen struggling to free herself from the man, who is wearing shorts, a greyish hat and flip-flops. She then falls to the ground on her back with the suspect still within reach. The man, who can be heard speaking in the video, is seen retreating after intervention by a male passer-by.
“It is alleged that the man approached the woman, asking for her contact number. The complainant showed no interest in the conversation. But the man started behaving inappropriately towards her, touching and holding the victim. The victim’s friend sought police intervention,” said Covane. He said community members who witnessed the man’s advances and the scuffle with the woman began meting out street justice to the suspect.
“Angry members of the public, baying for the man’s blood after he was rescued by police, reacted violently towards the officers. They threw bricks at police vehicles and assaulted some of the officers,” said Covane.
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