EDEN CLUSTER – Concerted efforts by specialist detectives attached to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual offences unit (FCS) based in George landed twelve suspects behind bars in connection with the commission of sexual offences which were perpetrated in George and surrounding Garden Route towns. The tracing operation was conducted from Wednesday, 23 March 2022 to Friday morning, 25 March 2022.
The tracing operation was aimed at the detection of known wanted suspects as well as those against whom a warrant for their arrest has been issued by the court.
Focussed on a positive outcome, detectives arrested three suspects for various sexual offences for whom warrants of arrest was issued, including a 44-year-old man for Indecent Exposure, in Pacaltsdorp, a 21-year-old man on a Knysna Sexual Assault Case and a 42-year-old man in connection with a Plettenberg Bay Rape case where the victim was violated during March 2018.
Another nine suspects of whom three (are juveniles, were arrested as they were known and identified by their victims / complainants. The violations were committed within the Conville (x4), Thembalethu (x3) and Knysna (2) policing precincts, mostly during March 2022.
Most of these suspects are still in police custody and are expected to appear in the George and Knysna Magistrate’s Court respectively on Monday, 28 March 2022. Two of the juveniles are currently in detention at youth and juvenile detention facility in George.
All the victims were afforded the necessary support by the SAPS.
The Western Cape police management commended the team for their vigilance and for bringing these sexual offenders to book. Gender-based violence and Femicide (GBVF) remains a priority for police and all efforts are being made to ensure that those found on the wrong side of the law face the full might of the law once arrested. These arrests will also bring some sort of closure to the victims knowing that their perpetrators will at least face the might of the Law.
Source: South African Police Service