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S.Africa: European Official Gang Raped in Durban, 11 Tourists Mugged
Business as usual. HT African Crisis.A visiting European swimming official has been gang-raped near the Durban beachfront paddling pools while her male companion, also a tourist, was held down. The latest gang-rape came just a day after Durban unveiled its beefed up holiday safety programme. The shocking attack on Wednesday was at the Lower Marine Parade childrens paddling pools, the scene of the gang rape of three teenagers on December 16, the Day of Reconciliation, last year. The victim, whose age is unknown, was in town with her team which was competing in this weeks International Paralympic Committees (IPC) Swimming World Championships at the Kings Park Aquatic Centre. She is not believed to be disabled. Reliable sources said that the woman, who was staying in a beachfront hotel, decided to go for a walk on the beach with a male swimming official from another country. It was just before 1am when the unsuspecting couple were attacked by four young men. The man was held down while she was gang-raped, a source said. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment and is understood to have returned to the championships on Thursday. Four suspects have been arrested, SAPS provincial spokeswoman, Senior Superintendant Phindile Hadebe confirmed last night. A source in the hospitality industry described the incident as outrageous, but wondered why the couple had ignored clear safety tips in their hotel. Said another: This is horrifying, but what were they thinking going for a walk at that time of night? She was worried that if the suspects were young men they would be released from custody and be back on the streets to attack again. If the authorities got rid of the street children and vagrants along the beachfront, then surely those still hanging around have to be criminals and the police could act. Often the police drive past criminals, believing them to be street children and vagrants. The attack comes at a time when South Africa is observing 16 days of activism against the abuse of women and children and follows the recent mugging of 11 cruise liner passengers at Durbans North Beach. Crime came under the spotlight during the recent provincial tourism conference in Durban, when delegates were told that the city had the most significant tourism development potential in the country but also the biggest safety and security problem. Posted by: anonymous5089 2006-12-09 |
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