News24 | KZN transport department security guards raped during break-in

Head of Department, Siboniso Mbhele accompanied by the Durban Region’s Chief Director, Muziwakhe Sithole and Metro Cost Centre manager, Sizwe Mvelase engaged with the Metro Cost Centre staff in the eThekwini region. This comes after a break-in at the premises and the rape of three female security personnel.

• Three security officers were raped at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport offices in Durban.
• The incident happened during an armed robbery.
• The department says it's being targeted by a criminal syndicate.

Three female security officers were raped during a break-in at the KwaZulu-Natal transport department's Durban offices on Monday.

Department spokesperson Kwanele Ncalane said in a statement that heavily armed criminals entered the Merebank offices in eThekwini at around 02:30.

"They kept hostage three male security officers who belonged to the private security company contracted to the department. Sadly, three female officers who were held at gunpoint in another room were sexually assaulted and raped," Ncalane said.

He added that work tools used for road maintenance were stolen.

"The female staff have been taken in for medical examination, and cases have been opened with the police. The investigating team has also visited the department's offices to initiate the investigation and is giving this case high priority," Ncalane added.

The department says a "criminal syndicate" has been targeting employees, attacking them at gunpoint and stealing equipment.

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Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said Wentworth police were investigating cases of business robbery and rape after the incident in Sialkot Crescent.

"It is alleged that the victims were robbed in the early hours by eight unknown suspects who took various equipment and also raped three security guards," Ngcobo said.

On Monday, head of department Siboniso Mbhele went to the site to speak to staff members and undertook to "look closely at the issue of improving security" at the department's offices.

"Our staff are in fear after this incident. This will affect the morale and seriously impact on service delivery. The cruelty by these criminals against female security officers is unacceptable," Mbhele said.

He continued:

He called on the police to appoint a high-level investigating team to bring the "heartless criminals to book" speedily.

"We are also addressing the security improvement in our premises to protect staff and our equipment. We appeal to members of the community to work with the police in reporting anyone who is selling departmental equipment," Mbhele said.

In August, several officials were robbed at gunpoint on the P100 road in uMzinyathi in the eThekwini metro. It was the second incident in a few weeks, with staff members on the same road robbed of their brush cutters.

READ | KZN transport dept officials robbed by 'criminals who are enemies of service delivery'

News24 previously reported that the department said attacks on officials had reached an alarming rate and threatened service delivery.

This was after officials were hijacked in uMzinyathi in the eThekwini Metro.