Cape Town – A Khayelitsha family is desperately seeking justice after their 20-year-old daughter and niece was subjected to a horrific ordeal of kidnapping and rape two weeks ago. The young woman was abducted at knifepoint in Inkanini while walking home from a friend's house.
According to the victim's mother, the incident occurred on Sunday, March 30th, shortly before 9pm. The aunt of the victim explained that the young woman was accosted by a man who initially appeared to be a robber, but soon revealed his sinister intentions.
"On her way back home, she thought this guy wanted to rob her but then he took her and threatened her with a knife," the aunt recounted. The perpetrator then subjected her to repeated acts of rape throughout the night, moving her between an outside toilet and various empty shacks. "He started raping her inside an outside toilet then he kept changing places looking for empty shacks. He would smoke then rape her, smoke then go back to her repeatedly the whole night."
The family was unaware of the young woman's plight until she returned home the following day. "We thought she was spending the night at her friend’s place until she got home the next day," the aunt explained.
The family managed to identify the suspect with the help of another relative. "We managed to find the suspect because when my niece described the suspect another sister of mine who is on drugs said she knows the guy because they used to smoke together. We made means to find him but the police let the perpetrator go," the aunt said, expressing her frustration and disappointment with the police's initial handling of the case.
The victim now lives in constant fear, as the perpetrator allegedly intended to kill her at Monwabisi Beach after holding her captive and raping her throughout the night. "That guy was carrying a lot of knives because she tried to fight but did not manage. He wanted to kill her but then a family member from her father’s side saw her and asked if she was lost. Then my niece explained and the guy ran away," the aunt added.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie confirmed that the Khayelitsha Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit (FCS) is investigating the rape, which was reported on March 31, 2025, at Makhaza SAPS.
"It is alleged that the victim was on her way home when she was accosted by the suspect on Sunday 30 March, who threatened her with a knife and took her to his shack where he violated her during the night," Lieutenant-Colonel Pojie stated.
He added that the victim was initially unable to provide the exact location of the crime scene. "The victim reported her ordeal the next day but was unable to provide or show the location of the crime scene."
Lieutenant-Colonel Pojie also addressed rumours surrounding the suspect's whereabouts. "Rumours that the suspect was at the day hospital for treatment forms part of the ongoing investigation. He is yet to be arrested."
SAPS is appealing to anyone with information that could assist in the investigation to contact Crime Stop on 0860 10111. The family is urging the authorities to ensure that the perpetrator is brought to justice and that their daughter receives the necessary support to recover from this traumatic experience.
