In this file photo taken on 28, October 2021 in this illustration photo taken in Los Angeles, a person watches on a smartphone Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveil the META logo. – Facebook owner Meta will lay off more than 11 000 of its staff in “the most difficult changes we’ve made in Meta’s history,” boss Mark Zuckerberg said on 9 November 2022. Photo: AFP.
Thabo Bester 2.0: Police searching for Mpumalanga’s Facebook rapist
Police have launched a manhunt for an alleged Facebook rapist who allegedly catfished, raped and robbed a teenager in Mpumalanga.
In this file photo taken on 28, October 2021 in this illustration photo taken in Los Angeles, a person watches on a smartphone Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveil the META logo. – Facebook owner Meta will lay off more than 11 000 of its staff in “the most difficult changes we’ve made in Meta’s history,” boss Mark Zuckerberg said on 9 November 2022. Photo: AFP.
Police are searching for an alleged Facebook rapist who catfished and robbed a teenager in Mpumalanga.
The incident happened on Sunday, 9 April.
MANHUNT LAUNCHED FOR ALLEGED FACEBOOK RAPIST
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Brigadier Slevy Mohlala said an 18-year-old girl was catfished and raped in Mgobodi bushes by a suspect she met n Facebook.
The victim from Ntunda received a friend request from the suspect, and after accepting the invite, they took their friendship to another level.
Mohlala said the victim alleged that the alleged Facebook rapist requested her to arrive at Mgobodi after 19:00. She reportedly took a taxi, and while on her way, they constantly communicated. The male friend kept assuring her that she would find him at the bus shelter.
The victim arrived at Mgobodi at around 20:00, and the situation was no longer as per agreement when she arrived.
“She alleged that she could not find her male friend; instead, she found somebody who introduced himself as someone sent by a friend to pick her up. During this time, she noticed something was not right, especially when the guy directed her to the nearest bushes.
“Out of suspicion, she asked why into the bushes, and the suspect informed her that it was a shortcut to her friend’s residence,” he explained.
“Whilst in the bushes, she was instructed to undress, and the suspect raped her before robbing her of her cell phone and then leaving her stranded. After a while, the victim recalled her male friend’s voice which sounded exactly like the suspect’s, making her believe that her Facebook friend raped her.
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A case is being investigated by the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, but no one has been arrested.
Mpumalanga Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, strongly condemned the incident. She further cautioned communities on the risk that goes along with online dating, as it might place their lives in danger or have negative repercussions for those involved in it.
