Couple attacked at ‘lover’s den’

Published Jul 22, 2013

Share

Kimberley - Northern Cape police warned people on Monday to be vigilant in the area known as 'lover's den', near Kimberley.

“Couples canoodling at the well known 'lover's den' on the road to Barkly West, just after Lerato Park near Kimberley, are falling prey to criminals who lie in wait for them,” said Colonel Priscilla Naidu.

A 29-year-old Galeshewe man was shot and wounded in the area early on Sunday morning. He was hit several times and his partner was raped twice. It was the third such attack at the spot this year.

Police said the pair left a local tavern in Galeshewe, Kimberley, where they had met.

“They drove to the lover's den spot. While they were busy outside the car, an unknown armed person accosted them,” Naidu said.

The man was shot and the woman raped. The attacker then forced the woman into the car and drove towards Bloemfontein. She was raped again before they got to Petrusburg.

Naidu said the car started giving the man problems near Petrusburg, but he drove to a garage. He gave a lift to a man and a woman who were hitch-hiking and continued driving to Bloemfontein.

“As the four were driving towards Bloemfontein, the vehicle once again stalled. The passengers got out of the vehicle, leaving the suspect behind,” Naidu said.

The woman told the two hitch-hikers what had happened and they alerted the police.

“Contact was immediately made with SAPS Galeshewe about the injured man at the veld. When police arrived at the spot where the vehicle allegedly stalled, the suspect was nowhere to be seen,” said Naidu.

The wounded man was taken to Kimberley hospital in a serious, but stable condition. Naidu said the man had lost sight in his left eye. - Sapa

Related Topics: