Nelspruit: A former boyfriend, aged 36 years, is expected to appear before Chief Albert Luthuli Magistrates’ Court accused of rape and domestic abuse after his arrest by Elukwatini police on 29 August 2022.

His arrest came after the couple experienced some serious glitches and malfunctioning in their relationship which led the 29-year-old victim to apply for a protection order. Police went to the suspect's residence on Friday, 26 August 2022 to serve him with the protection order, but the suspect made it difficult for the police as he ran away from his house.

On Saturday, 27 August 2022, the suspect is said to have sneaked to the victim's house where he allegedly threatened her with a knife and forced her to withdraw the protection order.

This reportedly came to a point whereby the suspect allegedly abducted her to his residential place and raped her.

The matter was brought to the attention of the police who conducted their investigation which led to the arrest of the suspect hence his appearance in court today subsequent to him been charged with rape, abduction and intimidation. Police cannot rule out the possibility of other charges added against him as the investigation continues.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela welcomed the arrest and condemned Gender-Based-Violence. "Most of sexual related incidents happen behind closed doors. We therefore appeal to victims to report such incidents even if they consider such as of less serious nature" said the General.

Source: South African Police Service