Durban - The man accused of raping a jogger just 2m from a busy road in Howick earlier this month, has appeared in court.
The 25-year-old, who came before a Howick magistrate on Monday, is charged with the rape and robbery of the 35-year-old woman after he attacked her on Curry’s Post Road at knifepoint.
The suspect is also accused of robbing his victim of her digital watch, track top and running shoes.
The Daily News established on Monday that the accused was taken to the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court to consult with legal aid advocates.
These consultations, however, fizzled out and the matter would be back in the Howick Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
South African Community Action Network head, Brian Jones, said the woman, an avid road runner and acclaimed business leader, had been visiting her parents in Howick where she was attacked.
Jones said the incident had raised awareness among road runners of the dangers they faced.
The incident was similar to one in 2013, when a doctor was attacked while jogging in Clarendon, Pietermaritzburg. The woman was dragged into shrubbery and raped.
Local club runner, Sandra Browning, warned runners to run with a partner. “There is safety in numbers,” she said.
Daily News