Police in South Africa have charged seven men after a mass rape of eight women. The suspects are charged with multiple rapes and violent theft, police in northern Gauteng province said on Wednesday. The men allegedly raped eight women at the end of July. In total, officials are investigating at least 32 rape cases, police minister Bheki Cele said.
In late July, heavily armed assailants attacked a film crew in the village of Krugersdorp, near the economic metropolis of Johannesburg, which was shooting a video clip in a disused mine. Police say the raped women are models between the ages of 19 and 35. The attackers also stole wallets, cell phones and jewelry.
Video: A local TV station reports on the incident and the protests that followed
More than 100 suspects arrested
Police shot and killed two of the assailants as they fled. Officials initially arrested more than 100 suspects, many of them illegal immigrants. Sexual violence is a major problem in South Africa with its approximately 60 million inhabitants. According to police statistics, 10,818 people were raped in the first three months of this year alone. However, the police believe that the number of unreported cases is much higher because most cases go unreported.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
