A woman narrowly escaped a rape attack on the same spot where a community had formed a human chain just hours before.
|||Cape Town - A woman narrowly escaped a rape attack on the same spot where a community had formed a human chain just hours before in an anti-abuse protest.
On Tuesday afternoon, activist and councillor Barbara Rass, together with rape victims and concerned community members, held the ceremony and joined hands in solidarity at the Robinvale Hall, Atlantis.
Just hours later, Barbara was approached by a 26-year-old woman who escaped from the clutches of a man who attempted to rape her outside the hall.
The woman had been walking to work when the man apparently began following her and grabbed her from behind before forcing himself on top of her.
Barbara says the area is a hotspot for stalking and rape.
“This woman knocked on my door at 6am on Wednesday,” says Barbara.
“Her eyes were wide with shock.
“She said she was walking on the same spot where the human chain was hours before.
“This man began following her and she said he also followed her the week before. She said he grabbed her from behind and she managed to break free.”
Barbara then alerted police and soon the man was taken into custody.
“The victim was inside the van and showed police who he was. He was arrested.”
Barbara says the 16 Days Of Activism For No Violence Against Women and Children seems to triggered an increase in sex crimes.
“I am appealing for police to be more vigilant in that area [Atlantis] because women are being stalked,” she adds.
Daily Voice