Two men appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday in connection with the alleged gang rape of an official of the French swimming team attending the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Swimming World Championships.
Police arrested four people on Tuesday night, but only two were charged on Friday, said police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Phindile Radebe.
Radebe said two of the men had agreed to become state witnesses and the case was remanded until February 27 next year.
The 26-year old French national had decided to go for a walk with another official on Tuesday night when they were attacked near the city’s beachfront paddling pools. The other swimming official, a man, was allegedly held down, while the French woman was gang-raped.
Speaking to the domestic press agency Sapa, Alison Burchell, the general manager of Disability Sport South Africa, said she was appealing to the press to leave the two officials alone.
”Allow them the chance to get back the dignity that was taken from them,” she said.
Asked whether she thought the incident would impact on South Africa’s ability to host future paralympic events, she said: ”I don’t think it will affect our intent, but we’ll have to go through the bidding process.”
She commended the South African Police Services’ efforts in apprehending the four suspects.
”That was super quick, especially in South Africa.”
The incident happened barely a day after the city’s Festive Season Management Committee (FSMC) unveiled its plans to boost security at the beachfront during the festive season.
On Monday, when the plan had been unveiled, officials were unwilling to reveal how many extra policemen would be deployed on the beach front.
Democratic Alliance leader in the eThekwini Metro council, John Steenhuizen said the attack highlighted the fact that the city did not have enough visible policing.
Hotel guests in Durban are regularly warned about going to the beaches and surrounding areas at night.
The Daily News quoted ”a source” in the hospitality industry as saying: ”This is horrifying, but what were they thinking going for a walk at that time of night?”
Steenhuizen said people should be allowed to stroll the beach areas at night.
”If we advertise ourselves as a tourist destination, then our guests should be safe 24 hours a day.”
He said ”the millions” the city spent on advertising would be wasted with ”just one of this kind of incident”.
On Friday afternoon a statement was issued by the Durban city manager, Mike Sutcliffe, expressing his ”outrage” at the attack.
He assured visitors that a ”comprehensive safety plan has been put in place”.
”We would appeal to all those who are enjoying what Durban has to offer to please exercise due caution and to pay attention to the safety tips and advice that is being made available at key points, including hotels.
Such caution is advised for travel anywhere in the world and includes advice that people not isolate themselves.”
Irchad Razaaly, second secretary at the French embassy in Pretoria, said he did not see France issuing ”a specific” travel warning to its citizens travelling to South Africa. He said that of an estimated 120 000 French citizens who visited South Africa annually, ”very few” became involved in serious incidents.
FSMC deputy head Christo Swart refused to say when the body had become aware of the incident or why it had taken so long for the city to issue a statement.
Three girls in their teens were raped at the same beach front paddling pools in December 2005. – Sapa