A criminal case has been registered with the South African Police Service (SAPS) after an 18-year-old General Assistant from a Secondary School in Verulam – Kwazulu Natal was sexually assaulted at Shopping Mall in Umhlanga yesterday afternoon (Friday 17 December 2021).
At approx 20:00 Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) received a call from a male who was seeking assistance after his stepdaughter returned home from the Year-End Function and informed the family that she was sexually assaulted at Gateway Theatre of Shopping. When interviewed by a Reaction Officer, the female informed that she had attended a Christmas Function for General Assistants and Educator Assistants arranged by the school she was employed at. The female added that the function was held at Cornubia Spur and part of the group then left to Gateway at approx 15:00. The females were transported from Cornubia by a 32-year-old Durban North resident that was later identified as a boyfriend of one of the Educator Assistants.
According to the victim, the girlfriend of the suspect left for home at approx 18:00 with her brother. At this stage, the 32-year-old male fondled her, forced himself on her and touched her inappropriately near Electric Avenue, an entertainment centre within the mall.
A witness known to both parties confirmed the incident.