UCT offers R100‚000 reward for suspected serial rapist

11 March 2016 - 17:51 By TMG Digital

The executive of the University of Cape Town has offered a reward of R100‚000 for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the perpetrator in the recent attacks in the Rhodes Memorial area. The university said in a statement on Friday it is also deploying members of a private security firm to increase patrols in the affected areas in an attempt to increase safety for both students and staff.Four rape attacks in two months have been attributed to the suspect‚ although the link to one culprit has not been proven as yet.UCT 'devastated' by brutal rape of studentThe latest attack was on Tuesday evening.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‚ UCT said. The man held her captive for some hours and raped her.“The man later forced her to walk to a garage where she was able to break free from the attacker and was assisted by staff to phone the South African Police Services for help. She was admitted to hospital‚” the university reported.The university recently established a sexual assault response team (SART)‚ headed up by Associate Professor Sinegugu Duma. The team aims to provide survivor-centred‚ compassionate and comprehensive services on campus. It includes a medical practitioner‚ counsellors‚ staff from Student Wellness Service and representatives from Campus Protection Services. There will also be a prosecutor and representatives from the nearest police station‚ the Rape Crisis Centre and the Hospital Emergency Room...

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