Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
06 June 2025
A 16-year-old girl who reported that she was raped while hitchhiking earlier this week has now been charged with perjury, after investigations revealed that she fabricated the entire story.
The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit immediately launched an investigation into the case, which had attracted significant public attention. However, during the course of their investigation, it was established that no rape had occurred. The girl eventually confessed that she had visited a male friend and, fearing her parents’ reaction, chose to lie about being raped.
In her original report, the teenager alleged that she was hitchhiking from Dullstroom to Lydenburg when a black VW Polo with two male occupants speaking English offered her a lift. She claimed that after passing Coromandel, the driver diverted into a secluded area, where she was rendered unconscious by a cloth with a chemical smell. Upon regaining consciousness, she claimed the passenger was raping her and later offered her money, which she refused.
These claims have since been proven false by the investigating officers.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has expressed deep disappointment at the false report. He issued a stern warning to the public about the seriousness of making false statements to the police. “We will not show mercy to individuals who open false cases. The crime statistics for the last quarter of 2024/2025 indicate an increase in sexual offences. It is therefore extremely concerning and disheartening when people abuse the system by reporting fake cases. These actions waste police resources and undermine the efforts to fight Gender-Based Violence (GBV), which we treat as a top priority.
False reports insult the real victims of GBV, who are genuinely suffering and need our support. We urge members of the public to work with us honestly. Anyone found to be providing false information will be charged. We will not hesitate to make an example out of such individuals.”
