Cape Town - The University of Cape Town on Thursday confirmed yet another rape incident around the Rhodes Memorial area.
UCT spokesperson Gerda Kruger said: “The university is devastated to confirm that yet another female UCT student was brutally attacked, assaulted and raped off campus on Tuesday evening.”
Read: Police issue photo of UCT rape suspect
Kruger said the student was running along the bicycle path in the area near the bridge of Princess Anne Drive in Newlands, when a man attacked her, threatened her with a knife, assaulted her severely and forced her into the bushes and towards the Rhodes Memorial area.
The man held the student captive for hours and raped her, Kruger said.
He later forced her to walk to a garage where she was able to break free from her attacker and was assisted by staff to phone police for help. The victim was then admitted to hospital.
UCT is working with the SAPS as closely as possible, Kruger said.
“We spend millions of rand on security every year, yet our students live in a society where they can be attacked and brutalised when out running on a busy road. This is tragic and deeply upsetting,” she said.
“The reality is that we simply cannot monitor the movements of 35 000 people (the UCT community on campus) every day. With such attacks in the areas around our campus we feel deeply distressed for the safety of female students in particular.”
At least four cases of rape or sexual assault in the area have been reported. UCT has indicated that three of the victims are students at the university.
In February police issued a photo of a suspect linked to the attacks.
Police urged anyone who could assist police in tracing Patrick Hlomane, 44, who is also known as Mthunzi Makhamba to call Captain Ruan Brummer on 074 861 6691 or Crime Stop on 0860 010 111.
A warrant for his arrest has been issued on charges of rape and robbery.
IOL MOJO