The community of Riemvasmaak informal settlement in Cape Town is reeling after the brutal rape and beating of a 16-year-old girl on Saturday, July 4.

The teenager disappeared earlier that day. Local residents immediately launched a search across the area.

Community Search Turns into Nightmare

Residents hunted for the girl for hours. No one knew the person responsible was walking among them and helping with the search.

Family spokesperson and community worker Beryl Williams said suspicion eventually turned to one man’s shack around 2pm.

“They realised they had not searched his place as they searched all over. They got to his shack and told him to open the door. He said he was washing; they then pounded on the door, eventually breaking the door open,” Williams told Cape Argus.

Victim Found Bloodied and Critical

Inside the shack, residents discovered the girl covered in blood and close to fainting.

She had been beaten with a hammer. She suffered serious head injuries and her eyes were swollen shut.

The teenager had also been raped while held captive.

She was rushed to Groote Schuur Hospital for a CT scan.

Suspect Escapes Through Window

As the community rushed to help the injured girl, the suspect fled through a window.

He has remained on the run since.

Williams said the man is known to police and had previously been in prison.

“The community is vying for his blood. He needs to be caught,” she said.

The family remains deeply hurt. Residents believe he may be hiding in nearby bushes and planned to search the area further.

Police Open Rape Case

Provincial police spokesperson Thembakazi Mpendukana confirmed Gassy Park SAPS opened a rape case following the incident at Riemvasmaak informal settlement.

Due to the sensitive nature of the matter, police released no further details.

The docket has been transferred to the Wynberg FCS for further investigation.

This attack has devastated a close community. Residents are demanding urgent police action to catch the suspect and deliver justice for the young victim.