A 34-year-old woman who had been reported missing at a Kempton Park hotel arrived at a police station on Monday and reported that she had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted by three men.
The woman had reportedly requested an e-hailing ride to work from the Protea Hotel in Kempton Park. Police said the driver allegedly took her to another location instead of travelling directly to her destination and picked up a second man along the way.
The woman told police that the vehicle was then driven to an area with many trucks. A third man allegedly entered the Suzuki vehicle, after which the three men sexually assaulted her.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the woman also alleged that one of the men drugged her.
“They allegedly drove into a place with lots of trucks and a third man came inside the Suzuki vehicle, and the three sexually assaulted her,” Nevhuhulwi said.
“She alleges that one of the suspects drugged her.”
According to police, the woman regained consciousness the following day, Monday, 14 September. She managed to force her way out of the vehicle near the Rhodesfield Gautrain station and sought assistance.
She was helped to get to a police station, where she reported what had happened. A case of kidnapping and rape has been opened for further investigation.
No suspects have been arrested.
Nevhuhulwi said police had not linked the incident to the string of deaths involving women in Ekurhuleni. Eight women’s bodies have been found in the wider investigation, including five in Kempton Park, two in Olifantsfontein and one in Tembisa.
“No suspects have been arrested at this stage,” Nevhuhulwi said, adding that the case was not linked to the string of murders in Ekurhuleni.
The distinction is important because the alleged kidnapping and rape took place as police continued investigating the deaths of women across the region. Although the cases have raised fear among residents, police have said the available information does not establish a connection between this survivor’s report and the murder investigations.
From Hotel Ride To Alleged Attack
The woman’s account began at the Protea Hotel in Kempton Park, where she was reportedly waiting for transport to work. The police information does not identify the e-hailing service, the driver or the exact location where the woman was taken.
Police said she had requested an e-hailing ride, but the driver allegedly changed the journey and drove her to a different area. Another man was reportedly picked up during the journey before the vehicle was taken to a place where trucks were parked.
The woman then alleged that a third man joined the driver and the other passenger. According to her account, the three men sexually assaulted her inside the vehicle.
She also alleged that one of the suspects drugged her. This may explain why she later regained consciousness only the following day, but the full medical and forensic details have not been released.
The case will require investigators to establish the route taken by the vehicle, identify the driver and other men, locate the area with trucks and determine whether security cameras or witnesses can assist the inquiry.
Records from the e-hailing request, cellphone data and vehicle information could help establish the movements of the woman and the suspects. Investigators may also examine whether the Suzuki was registered to the driver or whether it had been borrowed or rented.
Escape Near Gautrain Station
The woman reportedly regained consciousness on Monday and managed to get out of the vehicle near the Rhodesfield Gautrain station. She then sought assistance and was taken to a police station.
Her ability to escape provided detectives with an important starting point for the investigation. Her statement may help police identify the suspects, describe the vehicle and locate the area where the alleged assaults took place.
Investigators will also need to ensure that the survivor receives appropriate medical, psychological and legal support. A report of rape and kidnapping can be deeply traumatic, and the investigation should be handled in a way that protects her dignity and safety.
The woman’s name has not been released. Protecting her identity is important, particularly while the case is still being investigated and before any suspect has been arrested or charged.
The medical examination and forensic process may provide evidence that can assist the police. Investigators will need to explain the available procedures to the survivor and ensure that any evidence is collected and preserved properly.
The case will also depend on information from people who may have seen the vehicle, the suspects or the area where the woman was allegedly taken. Truck drivers, security personnel, workers and residents near the location could have seen the Suzuki or noticed unusual activity.
Police Say Case Is Separate
The alleged attack happened while Kempton Park and surrounding areas were already under pressure because of the discovery of women’s bodies. Police have been investigating eight deaths in Ekurhuleni, with bodies found in Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein and Tembisa.
The cases have raised questions about whether one person or several people could be responsible. However, police have told the public that the 34-year-old woman’s kidnapping and rape report is not linked to those murders.
That does not make the report less serious. Kidnapping and rape are serious offences, and police must now identify the people involved and determine whether the woman was targeted or whether the alleged attack began as a hijacking or abduction linked to another crime.
The police statement does not say whether the woman’s vehicle was recovered, whether the suspects took any belongings or whether a firearm was used. Those details may emerge as the investigation progresses.
Detectives will also need to establish whether the alleged driver was operating legally as an e-hailing driver and whether the vehicle was connected to a legitimate booking. The company involved may have records that show who accepted the trip and where the driver was supposed to travel.
Police have not confirmed whether the vehicle was identified through its registration number. If the survivor remembers details about the car, those details could help investigators locate it and identify the driver.
Search For Suspects
No arrests have been made, and the three alleged attackers remain unidentified. Police are likely to rely on the survivor’s statement, digital records, forensic evidence and information from witnesses to build the case.
Anyone who saw suspicious activity near the Protea Hotel, Rhodesfield Gautrain station, the truck area or along the suspected route could potentially help investigators. Information may include the registration number of the Suzuki, the appearance of the men or the time the vehicle was seen.
Members of the public should not approach anyone they suspect. Information should be provided to police so that it can be assessed safely and used in the investigation.
The police are appealing to anyone with information to contact SAPS Kempton Park on 011 393 8600 or use the MySAPS App.
The appeal comes as investigators try to establish the full chain of events from the woman’s request for transport to her escape near the Gautrain station. Each detail could help identify the people involved.
The case also highlights the risks that can arise when a person using a transport service is taken somewhere other than the agreed destination. Passengers are encouraged to share their trip details with trusted people where possible and to seek help immediately if a driver changes the route without explanation.
However, responsibility for the alleged crimes lies with the people who may have committed them. The focus of the investigation must remain on identifying the suspects and protecting the survivor.
Investigation Still At Early Stage
The case remains at an early stage. No suspects have been arrested, and police have not released the name of the alleged driver or the location where the woman was taken.
The charges will depend on the evidence collected. A person who is arrested will be presumed innocent until the allegations are tested in court, and the State will need to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The woman’s report may lead investigators to other evidence, including CCTV footage, cellphone records, e-hailing data and witness accounts. Police may also examine whether other people were involved in planning the attack or whether the three men acted together after the journey began.
The fact that the woman was found alive and able to report the matter may give detectives information that is not available in the murder cases being investigated elsewhere in Ekurhuleni. Her account could help police identify a specific vehicle, location and group of suspects.
But her evidence must be handled with care. Investigators will have to balance the need to gather information with the need to avoid repeatedly traumatising her during the process.
The court process will begin once police have identified and arrested suspects and the prosecution has authorised charges. Until then, the investigation remains open and the three alleged attackers remain at large.
For now, police have confirmed the kidnapping and rape case, said no arrests have been made and stated that the matter is not linked to the string of eight women’s deaths in Ekurhuleni.
The survivor’s escape near Rhodesfield Gauteng station allowed her to reach help and report the alleged attack. Investigators are now trying to trace the vehicle, identify the men and establish exactly where the crime took place.
Anyone with information can contact SAPS Kempton Park on 011 393 8600 or provide information through the MySAPS App. The information could help police locate the suspects and give the survivor the answers she is seeking.
