PORT ELIZABETH - TRAGEDY STRIKES AFTER 2 STUDENTS HIJACKED, ONE RAPED AND ONE SHOT

SCENE OF TRAGEDY - PICTURE VIA EUGENE COETZEE

A traumatic ordeal involving two students from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University last night (13/08) has ended in charges of rape, hijacking and murder being investigated by police.

The tragic incident allegedly played out at about 21:30 when the two students aged 21 and 28 years old were hijacked in North End in Port Elizabeth while seated in their vehicle. About 6 men approached the couple and pointed them with a firearm. The couple was pushed in the boot of their vehicle and two suspects drove off with them.

The couple was taken to a beach in Port Elizabeth where the 21 year old woman was allegedly raped and her male friend shot a few meters away from the car. The suspects drove off with the woman and dropped her off in central Port Elizabeth. The incident was reported to police during the early hours of this morning (14/08).

An investigation task team was immediately mobilised by the Acting Mount Road Cluster Commander, Brig Ernie Neveling and a manhunt was conducted for the suspects and the missing man, with the assistance of the PE Flying Squad, SAPS Air Wing, SAPS Search and Rescue divers and NSRI. At about 12:30 the body of a male was found floating in the sea near Brighton Beach.

The victim’s vehicle a gold coloured Polo Vivo , registration number HSC 308EC has not yet been recovered. Police are appealing to anyone who can assist in their investigation in tracing the suspects or the hijacked vehicle to contact D/Capt ‘Klippie’ Killian of SAPS Mount Road on 083 391 2377 or Constable Nkaza 082 442 1384 or 08600 10111. All information reported to police will be treated as strictly confidential.

VIA - SA Police Service