Motorist rescues young girl from brutal assault on R555
According to Julyan, the incident occurred shortly before 13:00 at the weighbridge just outside Middelburg.
The teenager, estimated by Julyan to be between 15 and 16 years old, leapt from the car at the four-way stop, and the two men in the vehicle chased after her.
By chance, a police constable drove past and was flagged down by Julyan to intervene.
According to Julyan, the two men told the constable that the teenager was mentally challenged, and they were taking her back to eMalahleni, where her mother lives. One of the men claimed to be her father.
During this time, the girl locked eyes with Julyan and begged him for help.
According to Julyan, the constable accepted the men's story and sent them on their way. Julyan, however, was deeply unsettled and followed the vehicle.
'About 3km to 5km later, the teenager tried to jump out of the moving vehicle, and the man next to her started beating her with his fists. I could see from behind them how there was a constant tugging, pulling and beating all the way to eMalahleni.'
Julyan reported the incident on the Traffic Alert group, and David Ross from Ross Towing asked him for a live location so that he could send help.
Ross and two other tow truck drivers managed to stop the vehicle, and the SAPS were called.
According to Julyan, the young lady was taken to the hospital and the men were apprehended for questioning.
'I don't know if the men have been charged, but the case now lies with the police.'
When told that the young lady likely had him to thank for her life, his humble reply was that he was just in the right place at the right time.
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The organisation added that farm attacks are brutal, targeted attacks that are often accompanied by torture, murder without anything being stolen and politically charged rhetoric such as the 'Kill the Boer' slogan. 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If one however looks at the US's legal definition of genocide, it is understandable why US officials can refer to farm attacks as a genocide,' he said. ISS added that of the 49 who were killed on farms in 2023, not all victims were farmers, adding that the figure represents 0.2% of 27,621 murders reported during that period. 'Half of all murders in South Africa occurred in just 12% of police precincts. Most of these high murder areas are townships in metropolitan areas inhabited largely by black residents,' the institution said. Agri SA executive officer Johann Kotze declined to comment. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said she was waiting for a response from her colleagues. The ISS said the idea of a 'white genocide' has been around for many years, propagated by fringe or extremist groups. However, there is no credible evidence to support claims of a 'white genocide' or any form of genocide taking place in South Africa. It added that multiple independent investigations have found no systematic or organised targeting of white people or farmers based on race or ethnicity, nor any indication that attacks aim to destroy an ethnic group or drive farmers from their land. 'These investigations include the 2003 Committee of Inquiry into Farm Attacks and the 2014 South African Human Rights Commission National Investigative Hearings into Safety and Security Challenges in Farming Communities,' ISS said. The institute added that South Africa's crime statistics show that most armed violent crime occurs in urban areas, mostly in public spaces such as streets or parks, but also in homes and businesses. 'Murder victimisation correlates more with class, gender and location than race. Lower income and high inequality are linked to higher rates of crime and violence. 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