Cape Town - When they found Sanet de Lange's cold and wet body on the side of the road, police thought she was dead and “threw her into the back of a patrol car” and took her to their police station.
She recalls fading in and out of consciousness with her face covered in blood at the station and on Monday described how her night out turned into horror.
The 18-year-old had arrived from Thailand last Wednesday and went out on Thursday night with friends to celebrate her homecoming. But she almost never made it home as she was brutally attacked after hailing a taxicab.
On Monday she was trying to piece together the events.
“I remember running really fast. I was breathing very fast and I was moving my arms as fast as I could. I think I jumped out of the taxi.”
She added that it was the first time she had been out in a long time and when her friends left, she decided to stay, believing she would “get home okay”.
“It is not my friends’ fault, it’s because of the sick people out there in this world.”
Sanet was found by police after she hid herself under a pile of dirt and leaves, and said she was presumed dead when they found her.
“Usually I am scared of bugs and things but at that time I wasn’t. I remember on CSI a girl covered herself in leaves when she was running from this guy.”
Despite having her passport on her, police did not identify her when they found her. She was recognised by a nurse when she arrived at Groote Schuur and her family was then contacted.
Her doctor believes a knuckle duster was used to hit her over the head and she had finger marks on her thighs and arms.
With the news of her attack making headlines, Sanet said she received some nasty comments online, with some saying she was to blame.
“One girl said I was probably doing something with the guy and the other guy said that maybe I was dressed like a slut, but I never dress like that. I always make sure I am covered up.”
The jeans, white T-shirt and red blazer she wore on the night were still wet from the soil and leaves she covered herself with. The clothing had splotches of blood on it.
Her family has now hired private investigator Keith Brice. He was to open a case with police on Monday night.
According to the Cape Times, the private investigator has identified a suspect.
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The family hired Brice after a Rondebosch police officer allegedly refused to assist them, asking who they should charge and allegedly saying Sanet was “just another drunk girl”.
The family has not yet laid a charge with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, but they have spoken to senior police officers at the Rondebosch police station, Sanet’s mother, also named Sanet, said on Monday.
Brice has been working around the clock to solve the case. Late on Monday, he said he had tracked down informants who led him to the identity of a suspect.
“I have him in my sights,” Brice said. He will also be viewing CCTV footage taken around the area where Sanet had been.
Brice said that while investigating the case, it had become clear to him that Sanet was not the only young person who had been attacked after leaving clubs in the area.
“There is still a lot of work that needs to be done and I am waiting for Sanet’s medical reports,” he said.
Brice said the family would lay a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and possibly abduction.
“This is not an isolated case. This type of thing happens a lot in the Claremont area but students don’t report it. The pirate taxis are a huge problem and are not being sorted out. There are always people talking about them, but nothing is being done,” he said.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut said: “The family must still open the case for investigating. Until then, this office will not be in a position to give comment.”
Cape Argus and Cape Times