Shock after Rhodes Park horror attack

410 18/10/2015 Constable Mpho Mashakane lays flowers at Kensington Park were two couples were attacked on Saturday night , two of the guys where tied up and thrown into the dam where they drowned and one woman was raped. Picture:Nokuthula Mbatha

410 18/10/2015 Constable Mpho Mashakane lays flowers at Kensington Park were two couples were attacked on Saturday night , two of the guys where tied up and thrown into the dam where they drowned and one woman was raped. Picture:Nokuthula Mbatha

Published Oct 19, 2015

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Ed's note: The couples were both South African and not Zimbabwean, as was reported earlier. We apologise for the error.

Johannesburg - A serene, peaceful atmosphere pervaded Rhodes Park in Kensington on Sunday, with many people leisurely walking their dogs, fishing and braaiing – apparently unaware of the tragedy of the night before.

On Saturday, a gang of about 12 men attacked two couples enjoying a late afternoon walk in the park, raping one woman, and tying up the two men and throwing them into the lake.

The women then watched as their partners fought for their lives until they drowned. The other woman managed to flee unharmed.

The women’s haunting screams alerted a security guard from a neighbouring bowls club, who called the police.

Police divers were called and searched for the bodies in the darkness.

It took them four hours to retrieve the bodies of the two men, aged 25 and 32.

The families of the victims were too distraught to speak on Sunday.

Also shocked were members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, of which one of the couples were devoted members.

One of the congregants, Robert Ndimande, said the two couples had spent the day in church on Saturday.

“The one couple ... are our members, but they brought along their friends who were visiting from the Eastern Cape to the service. They were with us almost the whole day. We cannot believe this – crime is getting out of control,” he said.

“Why did they not just rob them and leave them? They must have died a terrible death trying to get out of the water with their hands tied behind their backs.”

One of the victims was a teacher from Westbury.

Cleveland Community Police Forum chairwoman Alison Roberts was on the scene on Sunday and she, together with the SAPS, laid wreaths at the spot where the bodies were recovered.

“Everyone is reeling with shock at these senseless and barbaric murders. We are concerned about safety at all our parks.

“We have had numerous incidents of crime, and the City of Joburg has to do something, especially with the Christmas holidays approaching,” she said.

The chairman of the I Love Kensington Association, Tony de Munnik, said: “Today is a black day in our village. No amount of analysis will in my mind ever justify the horrendous attack that took place in Rhodes Park.”

He expressed his deepest sympathies to the victims of this “savage, barbaric attack that has left a deep sense of sorrow on all self-respecting citizens”.

De Munnik said Saturday’s attack highlighted the need for more effective patrolling of public spaces.

“It’s time to act now, and let us do so in the name of the victims of Saturday’s attack, so that October 17, 2015 is remembered as the day that another senseless, brutal incident became the catalyst for all in our city and in our village to say ‘no more’.”

He added that the organisation would consider the creation of a memorial to those who lost their lives “in this vicious and senseless act of savagery”.

Ward councillor Carlos da Rochas said the park gates were locked at night, but thieves steal the palisade fencing or break down the concrete palisades to get access to the park, among other problems.

“However, the main concern is a huge stormwater drain through which they escape. This drain leads back into the city in one direction down to Bruma,” he said.

City Parks spokeswoman Jenny Moodley said the department was forced to rely on the Joburg metro police department and SAPS for patrolling the park.

“Safety in parks is not our core function, but nonetheless we are busy reviewing our safety strategy and will be coming up with some interim measures to tighten up security,” she said.

The police said they had launched a hunt for the killers.

Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said that due to the nature of the crime, the charge sheet had been handed to a special investigative unit of the SAPS.

Police are appealing to anyone with information to contact the nearest police station or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.

[email protected], @annacox

The Star

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