Woman rescued from attempted rape in Florida

A 23-year-old woman was grabbed outside the Unisa Florida Campus by three men who attempted to rape her at the back of a white BMW.

Her boyfriend, Sphelele Dludla, created awareness about her ordeal, which took place on the morning of 16 May, via his Twitter page. Once she was forced into the back of the vehicle, she was told she would be raped.

Speaking to Roodepoort Northsider, Dludla explained his girlfriend was asked to remove her bra and panties. She removed her bra under her shirt but when she refused to remove her panties, one man tried to force her jeans off her while the other pinched her eyes closed in an attempt to stop her from seeing what they were doing. She continued to fight the men.

Dludla explained that the driver alerted the other men of a navy blue car which was following them. The navy blue vehicle hooted and the driver made hand signs towards the perpetrator’s vehicle.

The men then threw the victim and her bag out of the vehicle and sped off.

Her unidentified rescuer stopped to help, wanting to take her to a place where she would be safe. The rescuer explained he had seen her being taken and decided to follow the vehicle.

The victim eventually agreed for her rescuer to take her to a shopping centre near the campus as long as he left the vehicle doors unlocked.

Read: Woman punches would-be rapist 

Dludla added he had dropped her off at campus in the morning as she was writing an exam around 11am. Before he dropped her off, they visited a restaurant at a nearby shopping centre. She decided to go back to that shopping centre, where her rescuer asked the security guards to keep an eye on her.

Dludla was meant to pick her up from campus after her exam around 1.30pm and was worried when he could not contact her. He was contacted by the victim from one of the security guard’s cellphone.

When Dludla picked her up, he explained all she did was cry and asked to go home. She did not want to report the incident as she was so traumatised and did not know the details she knew the police would ask for.

“We have received a lot of support, even from doctors who are willing to assist with any medical conditions and we have been offered psycho-social support. Everyone sending messages, phoning and talking to me, I relate all the messages to her and she really appreciates them,” said Dludla.

Dludla said he would like to find the rescuer to express his gratitude in person. His girlfriend was in such a state, she did not take any of his details.

She only remembers his vehicle and that he was from the area.

“It is a great deed he has done. If it were not for him, I do not know what would have happened to my girlfriend. He was a Godsend and I am grateful that he had the courage to stand up and do something. We need more men like him in society,” Dludla added.

Also read: Honeydew police warn against walking solo