Gqeberha police are searching for two men who allegedly raped a 15-year-old Motherwell teenager and left her for dead.
A police statement on Wednesday confirmed that the visibly ill and possibly sexually assaulted Zenizole Vena was allegedly turned away from the local clinic and told she had to go to the police station first.
The teenager died two hours later.
Colonel Naidu says Vena was last seen during the weekend of Saturday, 17 September, four days before the tragedy.
“She left her home in Motherwell and stated that she was going to attend a school event in Malabar. She never returned home [and] she was never reported missing,” said Naidu.
It is further alleged Vena had been raped by the two males who were reportedly known to her.
“On Wednesday, 21 September 2022 at about 06:40, a 58-year-old woman found a visibly distraught Vena on the streets ” Naidu continued.
“It is further alleged that she was raped by two males known to her.
“The woman took her to the clinic and was referred to the police station. At about 08:05, the woman and another person brought Miss Vena to SAPS Motherwell. The teenager was crying and appeared to be having an epileptic seizure and was vomiting. An ambulance was immediately summoned to attend to her.”
“While waiting for the ambulance, she suffered further alleged epileptic seizures. When the ambulance arrived, she had already passed away.”
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene expressed her sadness and deep concern surrounding the death of the teenager.
Police are investigating an inquest and a rape case.
Detectives are now waiting for the results of a post-mortem and a toxicology report.
Police were on Wednesday yet to make arrests.
Lt Gen Mene stated that when children or any person failed to return home as expected and may be deemed missing, they must be reported immediately to the police.
“There is no waiting period to report a person missing. Children are vulnerable and are easily influenced therefore, as responsible adults everything must be done to protect them from becoming victims of crime. It is a sad reality that in many of our Gender Based Violence cases, the perpetrators are known to the victims,” added Lt General Mene.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape Health Department says the matter is being investigated.
In a statement on Wednesday, it said a preliminary report indicates that the girl was attended to at the clinic and was found to be clinically stable.
“The department will deal with any shortcomings identified during our investigation and appropriate action will be taken. This includes taking appropriate disciplinary action where recommended,” the statement read.
The clinic has been temporarily closed following community unrest in the area on the matter.
