No charges laid against men for alleged assault of ‘teen' on R555

The Citizen

3 days ago

No charges laid against men for alleged assault of 'teen' on R555
Annemarie Bouwer, operational co-ordinator of the South African Community Crime Watchers (SACCW) Witbank sector, confirmed in an interview today that responders of SACCW and drivers from Itana Towing and Van Wettens were behind the apprehension of two men who were allegedly seen assaulting a young woman who tried to escape their car on the old Middelburg/Witbank road.
The Middelburg Observer spoke to the motorist who witnessed the incident, and in turn, appealed for help that resulted in the intervention.
Wayne Julyan (the motorist) told the Observer he saw the young woman, whom he estimated to be 15 or 16 years old, leaping from the car at the weighbridge just outside Middelburg.
Two men set after and caught her, and Julyan flagged down a police constable who happened to be driving by.
According to Julyan, the two men told the constable that the woman was mentally unwell and that they were taking her home to eMalaheni. One man also claimed to be her father.
During the dialogue, the girl locked eyes with Julyan and begged him to help her.
After the constable let the trio go, Julyan decided to follow the vehicle, and after a short drive, saw how she tried to escape from the moving car. Julyan then told in detail that he witnessed one of the men assaulting the woman with his fists.
He further detailed that the tugging, shoving and hitting continued all the way to eMalaheni.
Julyan had, by then, called for assistance on Traffic Alert, and David Ross reported the situation on the Witbank Zello Group.
Through a live location shared by Julyan, SACCW members managed to track the vehicle's route, resulting in an interception.
'The tow truck drivers placed themselves strategically at certain crossings they thought the vehicle would drive past, while some of SACCW's members pursued the vehicle from behind. The Van Wettens and Itana drivers then managed to intercept them at the traffic light near Cosmos Hospital,' Bouwer explained.
The men were detained until the Witbank SAPS and Tracking Unit arrived to take them into custody.
According to Bouwer, the young woman was taken to the hospital to see a forensic nurse, and the case was taken over by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit.
It was reliably learned that the men under questioning told the police that she was involved in traditional affairs and bewitched.
Media spokesperson for the Witbank SAPS, Captain Eddie Hall, confirmed that no arrests were made or charges laid.
• The young woman's age could not be confirmed.