In a display of exceptional dedication, four off-duty Clarens police officers successfully tracked and arrested a wanted attempted rape suspect in the mountainous terrain behind the town on Monday.
The team, comprised of Sergeants Lebohang Nhlapo and Thabo Makume, along with Constables Lehlohonolo Rampai and Serame Lesenyeho, had just completed their night shift. Instead of going home, they initiated a search operation around 10:00, climbing the Clarens Mountain in pursuit of the suspect.
Their efforts led to the arrest of a 37-year-old undocumented foreign national, who is a former local shepherd. The man has been positively linked to the attempted rape of a 46-year-old woman, which occurred on the morning of Sunday, 17 August 2025.
According to police reports, the incident took place at approximately 08:30. The victim was jogging when the suspect attacked her, forcing her to the ground and attempting to undress her. Demonstrating remarkable courage, the woman fought back fiercely, scratching her attacker’s face and poking him in the eye, which allowed her to break free and escape.
She then managed to stop a passing motorist, who assisted her in getting to the Clarens police station to report the crime. The suspect, meanwhile, fled into the surrounding mountains.
The apprehended suspect has been charged with attempted rape and is expected to make his first appearance before the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 22 August 2025. The case has been handed over to the Bethlehem Family, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation.