A 26-year-old was raped inside her New Brighton home by two knife-wielding robbers who were arrested on Wednesday morning.
The robbery turned rape happened at about 11:30pm on Monday evening when two men broke into a house in Maqanda Street, New Brighton.
By 3am on Wednesday morning, detectives had tracked down the two suspected culprits to a house in Kwazakhele where they were arrested.
Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said the arrest stems from the house robbery, turned rape, which left a young woman severely traumatised.
“The men broke into the house and confronted the woman while she was in bed. Inside the same house was an 83-year-old woman who rents a room in the house” he said.
“The men sexually assaulted the woman in the one bedroom while the 83-year-old was held in another room.”
Beetge said the men threatened to kill the woman while holding a knife against her throat.
“She was warned and told that if she screams, they would kill her. It appears that the initial motive was robbery.”
Beetge said the men fled a short while later with two cellphones and about R20 in cash.
“The police were alerted and began tracking the suspects. By Wednesday morning a lead was received that the men were found hiding in a house in Madikana Street, Kwazakhele.” Beetge said.
During the arrest, police found eight cellphones.
“The two cellphones stolen during the house robbery and rape while the six cellphones are believed to be connected to other robberies in different locations across the Bay,” he said.
“Detectives are currently analysing the six other phones to identify if they were also taken during robberies.”
Beetge said more charges would be added at a later stage.
Motherwell Cluster Commander, Major General Dawie Rabie said the detectives would be at the court appearance and intend to oppose any bail application.
Both men are due to appear in the New Brighton Magistrates Court on Thursday.