Sun City rape hell

No rape cover-up: Sun International

JOHANNESBURG - Sun City says there have not been any cases of rape in the past 12 years other than one alleged assault – this despite claims that there had been several this year alone.

A 20-year-old Johannesburg woman is still seeking answers after she was raped and went through hours of hell at South Africa’s flagship resort, Sun City, earlier this year.

Sources have revealed this may not be the only young woman to have been raped there this year.

The woman’s family say they believe there has been a cover-up because they are yet to be informed of any advancement in the case.

The victim’s mother approached The Citizen to get justice for her daughter who is suffering from post traumatic stress from the ordeal.

“We have been told nothing and it’s months since the incident. It seems as if someone is trying to cover up this incident.

“My daughter wasn’t even asked to compile an identikit,” her mother said.

The victim, whose identity is known to The Citizen, was raped on June 22 at Sun City by an unknown assailant.

He is said to have approached the woman while she was on her way back to her hotel room.

Her sister said: “My sister was walking towards where she thought the shuttle was and someone tried to talk to her. She was scared and walked away only to have the man follow her. She started to run and he grabbed her from behind and threw her to the ground where he raped her.”

The woman managed to flee from the assailant and report the matter to the premises’ security.

Both her mother and sister who were called to the scene shortly afterwards say the security guard told them he did not know what had happened. The woman made a statement to police and was examined by a district surgeon.

Sue Klerck, marketing executive for Sun International has indicated that reports from its head of operations and their attorneys will be sent to The Citizen.

Sun City police commissioner, Superintendent Warren Alberts has also promised “to look into the case and see what investigations have revealed.”

The victim’s mother says that she had been informed by an officer who attended to the family, once they had reported the incident, that there had been a number of previous rapes at Sun City.

When this Inspector was asked for comment he said: “Who the hell gave you my number?”

The victim has received anti-retroviral treatment as well as counselling from a clinical psychologist.

Her mother said: “She has been having anxiety attacks and is depressed. She is also complaining of chest and back pains.”

The mother is “disgusted,” at how her daughter has been treated.

“This is the reason so many rape cases never get reported. You are treated as if you brought it on yourself and not given information on how the case is progressing. It is very frustrating and not respectful to the victim at all,” she said.