The woman’s screams alerted a nearby community member, forcing her attacker to flee into the night.
Image: DFA / Created with DALL-E / Illustration
A LATE-night walk home turned into a nightmare for a Colesberg woman when a man she knew tried to rape her - but her screams stopped the attack and helped put him behind bars for 10 years.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Merapelo Pilane said the horrifying ordeal unfolded on Saturday night, February 17, 2024, when a 28-year-old man, Lukhanyo Kafi, ambushed a woman who was on her way home from visiting her boyfriend in the Operation Vula area of Colesberg.
The attacker, known to the victim, demanded sex and turned violent when she refused, brutally assaulting her and forcing her to the ground as he tried to undress her.
Her desperate screams for help alerted a community member nearby, forcing the would-be rapist to flee the scene before completing the attack.
The incident was reported to the Kuyasa police station, and thanks to quick action by law enforcement, the suspect was tracked down and arrested just hours later. He remained in custody throughout his court appearances.
The Colesberg Regional Court has now handed down a 10-year prison sentence to Kafi for attempted rape. In addition to his jail term, the court has barred him from ever owning a firearm and ordered that his name be permanently recorded in the National Register for Sex Offenders.
The Pixley ka Seme district commissioner, Major-General Nomana Mtukushe, hailed the investigating officer, Detective Constable Eric Ngcapayi, for bringing the case to a close with speed and precision.
She also encouraged the public to take a stand against gender-based violence. Any criminal activity can be reported via the MySAPS app or by calling Crime Stop on 08600 10111.