An alleged rape victim and an accomplice have been arrested after they allegedly tried to extort money out of the man she accused of rape. It's alleged that the duo demanded R15,000 from the accused to make the rape case go away.

EXTORTION 

The complainant who reported the two suspects alleged that her son was arrested in November on charges of rape in a case that was reported at the Soshanguve police station, north of Pretoria. Gauteng spokesperson for the Hawks, Captain Lloyd Ramovha, said the Hawks identified the suspects as Sibusiso Comfort Banda and Nontobeko Elsie Nyandeni. They allegedly demanded R15,000 from the mother of the rape-accused man. Ramovha said a trap was set, and Banda and Nyandeni were arrested after receiving the R15,000 in cash. "On Friday, November 29, 2024, a successful operation by the Hawks' Serious Crime Investigation led to the arrest of two suspects involved in an extortion case stemming from rape allegations. The suspects were apprehended following a planned operation around Pretoria's central train station. The operation was initiated after the complainant (the mother of the rape-accused man) reported an attempted extortion involving R15,000," Ramovha said.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

The investigator in the rape case was alerted about the extortion demand, leading to the involvement of the Hawks' serious corruption investigation (SCI) unit. "Post her son's court appearance, the alleged victim and an accomplice approached the mother, demanding R15,000 to withdraw the rape charge. The alleged rape victim and her accomplice were arrested at the train station in Pretoria after they received the R15,000, not knowing they were being trapped. Banda and Nyandeni were consequently detained at Pretoria Central police station," said Ramovha.