ActionSA explores its options to expose the name of company liable for Krugersdorp Rapes

12 September 2022       

I write this open letter to you, Minister, to express my deep concern that law enforcement is not taking seriously the matter related to the 32 counts of rape that emanate from the gruesome attack that took place on 28 July 2022 at an illegal mine in Krugersdorp.

According to the Police’s own accounts, eight women were raped when a television crew filming a music video at a mine dump in the nearby township of West Village by heavily-armed men, some suspected of being illegal miners.

Following this incident, I wrote to the Gauteng Provincial Commissioner of Police, General Elias Mawela, and yourself requesting that the name of the production company responsible for this music video be made public without further delay.

Indeed, the company responsible for the production of the music video ought to have provided the necessary security measures to ensure the protection of life and limb of the participants of this production. Particularly because this area is notorious for its dangerous and illicit activity.

ActionSA respects the privacy of the victims of this brutality. However, we do not believe that this production company has a reasonable expectation of privacy and that steps should be taken to halt its activity pending the outcome of ongoing investigations to assess whether any security measures were put in place.

The Provincial Police Commissioner responded to my letter of 9 August 2022 stating that “Due to the sensitive nature of the case, divulging information regarding the company that commissioned the music video would jeaopardise further investigation. However, the information can be made available once the court case is final.”

While we appreciate the sensitivity of criminal investigations, there is a real concern that this company will continue to put the lives of its talent and production team at risk if they are not exposed. This is made more likely by the fact that investigations in our country last an inordinate amount of time.

It has been 46 days and there has been no update on the case and the suspects.

Given the seriousness of this matter; we request that you, as the Minister of Police entrusted to protect South Africans from criminality, brief the public on the progress made in the investigation and expose this negligent production company

Failing this we will explore all our legal options to ensure that this company is exposed and does not continue to operate with impunity.

The lives of 8 women have forever changed 46 days ago and they deserve justice.

With every report it appears that women are not getting safer in our communities and there needs to be greater political will to intensify efforts to ensure that these attacks are better prevented if not prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

This is your duty, Mr. Cele, and we trust you will honour it.

Issued by Herman Mashaba, President, ActionSA, 12 September 2022