Suspects of Group Sexual Assault at Abandoned Mine Caught and 'Directly Punished' by Residents

A Total of 104 Suspects... Residents Step Up to Arrest Over 20 Suspects

Local residents are monitoring a partially closed tunnel used by illegal miners located in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, South Africa.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] After illegal miners in South Africa stormed a music video filming site and gang-raped female models, local residents took direct action to punish them. Among more than 100 suspects, the residents captured as many as 20.

According to a report by the South African local media Daily Maverick on the 4th (local time), residents near Krugersdorp west of Johannesburg caught the 'Jamajamas' (illegal miners) involved in the incident and handed them over to the police.

At the time, the residents stripped and beat the suspects, holding them until the police arrived, and the police arrested them in front of the watching residents.

The suspects are accused of gang-raping eight models aged 18 to 35 who had gathered to film a music video at an abandoned mine, and stealing equipment and belongings from the filming staff before fleeing. The suspects also stripped the male staff and escaped from the scene.

The police suspect the Jamajamas, who had previously committed sexual crimes against local women, as the perpetrators and arrested 104 suspects involved in the case in a large-scale operation.

As a result, most of them were found to be Jamajamas (illegal miners), mainly illegal immigrants from neighboring countries such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. One person died in a shooting that occurred during the arrest process.

Upon learning of this, residents claimed that the Jamajamas were systematically committing crimes in the area and urged the police to investigate.

The police plan to conduct DNA tests on the suspects soon to identify those responsible for the sexual assault case.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the incident "a horrific atrocity that violates women's rights to live and work in freedom and safety," urging a strong response, stating that "rapists have no place in our society."