Durban – A 29-year-old woman found in an incoherent state on the side of a road in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, has alleged that she was drugged and sexually assaulted, but has provided conflicting accounts of how the incident unfolded.
According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the woman was discovered lying on Ireland Street in the Verulam central business district after concerned members of the public alerted emergency services.
While receiving medical treatment from paramedics, the woman produced an identity document and told responders that she worked as an escort in Umhlanga.
RUSA said members of the public later assisted in identifying the woman after images of her were circulated with her identity concealed.
The woman initially told responders that she had been kidnapped in Umhlanga by an unknown African man, who allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted her before abandoning her.
“She later changed her account, stating that she had met three (3) Indian males from Chatsworth – KZN who told her they were travelling to Richards Bay in Kwazulu Natal. According to the woman, she believed they were potential clients but she was allegedly drugged, sexually assaulted, and later dumped on the R102 between Umhlanga and Mount Edgecombe.,” RUSA said.
RUSA said both versions of the woman’s account were recorded on officers’ body-worn cameras.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, and it was not immediately known whether a criminal case had been opened.
Authorities are expected to investigate the woman’s allegations to establish what occurred.
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Picture: Facebook/RUSA
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
