/ 1 January 2002

Teenager kidnapped, raped for a week

A 13-year-old Grahamstown girl was kidnapped, raped and held captive for a week before escaping on Saturday, police said.

Captain Funisile Phillip said on Sunday that the girl was sent to a local shop about midday on Saturday, October 26 to buy groceries. On her way home a man offered to help her with her parcels, and she accepted. On the way back the pair stopped at the man’s house, where he locked the girl in and raped her. She was raped again several times during the course of the week. The girl managed to escape on Saturday, November 2 when the man left his keys in the house by mistake.

A missing person’s case had been opened on October 27. Phillip said no arrest had yet been made, but the suspect was known to the police. – Sapa