News

Johannesburg – The South African Police Service (SAPS), has said that a rape suspect, whose tongue was bitten off by the victim would appear in court when discharged from hospital.

SAPS spokesman, Lt. Col. Leonard Hlathi, told newsmen in Johannesburg on Tuesday that a teenager bit off a man’s tongue while she was being raped.

“The 17-year-old girl was held up by an armed man and his accomplice, and dragged into a bush on Monday. The man with the gun told his partner to get alcohol and some friends, to gang rape the girl.

“He then forcefully undressed her and began to rape her.

“In the process, the suspect tried to kiss the victim, but she bit off his tongue and ran to a nearby house for help,” he said.

He said the Police were alerted and they tracked down the man and arrested him.

“The man is being kept under police guard in hospital, and is expected to appear in court when discharged.”

He also said the Police was looking for another man whose finger and tongue were bitten off by a woman he raped last Friday.

“The woman was hitch-hiking to Carolina on Friday, when the man gave her a lift around 6p.m.

“The man stopped the car near Mooiplaas farm and hit the woman with a soft drink bottle several times on the upper body; he then dragged the woman to the bushes and raped her.

“While raping the woman, the man tried to kiss her but she bit off half of his tongue, forcing him to jump away in pain.”

Hlathi said the suspect tried to get hold of the woman again, “ She then bit off the little finger of his right hand and ran away, leaving the two body parts at the scene.

“It seemed the man fled with his finger and piece of the tongue, because police did not find them at the scene. We are appealing to members of the public to help us arrest him”.

He said the woman was receiving treatment in a hospital.

“The suspect was still at large. But a case of rape had been opened for investigation.