Xolani Khumalo Rescues Woman From Suspected Rape Attempt in Kempton Park
- An e-hailing driver raised the alarm after noticing a 33-year-old woman from Thembisa appeared to be in distress
- Xolani Khumalo and his team found two men with the woman inside a house, with one of them already undressed
- The door-to-door operation came after eight women's bodies were discovered across Ekurhuleni since July
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GAUTENG - Sizokthola presenter and Action SA Ekurhuleni candidate Xolani Khumalo helped rescue a woman from a suspected rape attempt during a door-to-door safety campaign in Kempton Park.
He was accompanied by private security personnel and a small number of police officers at the time.
Khumalo's door-to-door leads to woman's rescue
The operation, which was live streamed on TikTok, was triggered by a tip-off from an e-hailing driver who grew concerned after he picked up two men and a woman. Picking up signs that the 33-year-old woman from Kwa-Thema was not in a sound state of mind, the driver contacted Khumalo's team, who responded immediately.
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When they arrived at the house, they found the woman with two men. One of the men had already undressed, and his companion was in the process of doing the same. Khumalo confronted the men on camera, asking what was going on, but received no coherent response. He publicly praised the e-hailing driver for sounding the alarm, calling him a hero.
Ekurhuleni women's deaths sparked the campaign
The door-to-door drive was launched in direct response to a deeply troubling pattern across Ekurhuleni. Since July, eight women's bodies have been discovered in the area. All were found partially or fully unclothed, and at least four were confirmed to have been sexually assaulted before being killed.
The reported cases include five in Kempton Park, two in Olifantsfontein and one in Kwa-Thema. The disappearance of Kempton Park runner Elizabeth, whose missing person poster spread widely online, drew national attention to the crisis. She was reported missing on 9 September, and her body was found in Kempton Park days later.
The killings have prompted widespread fear among women and intensified calls for urgent action on gender-based violence. Women's organisations have demanded that women's safety be treated as a national priority.
Police response and R400,000 reward
Previously, Briefly News reported that Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia held a joint media briefing on Tuesday, where he confirmed that a dedicated investigative team had been established to probe the cases. He said authorities were determined to bring those responsible to justice and that Operation Shanela would be expanded in Kempton Park and the surrounding areas.
Residents can expect a significantly increased law-enforcement presence in the coming weeks. Authorities have offered a R400,000 reward for any information that could assist in identifying those behind the killings.
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Source: Briefly News
