A pregnant woman in Johannesburg, South Africa, bit the penis of the rapist who assaulted her in front of her five-year-old child on Monday, January 8. The culprit remains at large, with police on alert for the “severely injured” attacker.
The three-month pregnant woman was hitchhiking to a clinic with her child when the incident occurred. She flagged a white Toyota Jazz outside the small town of White River, Mpumalanga province, with two men onboard. However, the driver did not drive her to the clinic.
Woman bites penis of the rapist
The two men warned her not to scream at gunpoint and drove the car to a secluded area.
“One of the men forcefully raped her at knifepoint in front of her child,” said the Mpumalanga police.
“During the process, the woman managed to bite the private part of the man, who ran away,” they added.
Local authorities called for medical establishments in the area to notify them should they treat a man with a “severely injured” penis.
“We appeal to all health institutions that should they found a man with an injured private part, they must as soon as possible contact Constable Solly Mabuza,” Mpumalanga police said in a statement.
The penis was not completely severed, the report said.
Image source: Google street view of a street at White River Town
High sexual assault rates
According to Africa Check, people in South Africa reported an average of around 109 rapes every day between 2016 and 2017. Speculation says the numbers could be higher as it is often the case that victims do not come forward.
Critics of the police have accused local authorities of inadequately investigating alleged rapes and failing to treat victims properly.
Independent studies show that many alleged attackers remain unprosecuted, while the conviction rate in rape trials is less than 10%.
Tips on how to protect yourself from assault
You don’t need to bite off the penis of the rapist in order to defend yourself from sexual assault. You can, however, follow some tips on how you can avoid and defend yourself from sexual predators.
- Trust your instincts.
- Be prepared.
- Don’t share too much on-line about what your plans are.
- Stick together with your friends or let them know where you are going.
- Be aware of your alcohol consumption.
- If you do have a drink, don’t let it out of your site.
- Be ready to speak up to help someone out.
- Keep your eyes scanning
- Make sure your ears are listening and free of earphones
- Keep your feet moving
- Choose a smart route
- Tell a friend where you are going
- Don’t compromise your standards
- Understand that consent to sexual activity can be withdrawn at any time.
You can check out other lists on how to better protect yourself here, here, and here.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: Safety tips for women Singapore: Mum almost raped while on holiday.