Johannesburg - A Joburg family are traumatised after their son and daughter, both keen bikers, were accosted and robbed by armed men in Benoni. The woman was raped.
The family were too shocked to speak to the media but eblockwatch’s Andre Snyman said the siblings’ bikes and phones were stolen.
Another sibling had earlier posted a message on eblockwatch’s Facebook page warning other cyclists.
He wrote: “I have been a member since you started out – I think in 2001. Today I really need your help. My brother and sister went cycling in Kempton Park yesterday (Thursday) at 4.30pm. They went in the cornfields, next to the R21 highway and the Benoni offramp.
“They were stopped by three men with guns, and they were tied up. The men then waited for nightfall after which they separated my brother from my sister and then proceeded to rape my poor sister. Luckily, they are still alive. It seems like this is a regular thing in the corn fields. I cannot describe the intense feeling of hatred that we are struggling with now.
“Emigration is the first thing that comes to mind, but I don’t believe that running away is the answer.”
The man added that the police went out with sniffer dogs but it did not seem as if they had found any leads.
But Snyman said he was working with police and had found several positive leads.
The bikes that were stolen were a white Merida TFS900 and Grey Merida XC 400.
Snyman said the spot where the robbery and assault had occurred was between several farms and under a bridge.
Anyone with information should contact the Benoni police on 011 747 0000 / 0221.
Saturday Star