The KZN Department of Transport has launched an investigation after three female security guards were allegedly raped and sexually assaulted during a break-in at their Merebank offices, in Durban, on Monday morning. Three other male security guards were allegedly held hostage at gunpoint during the robbery.

In a statement, the Department spokesperson Kwanele Ncalane said their offices were ambushed by heavily armed men at midnight. "They kept hostage three male security officers ,who belonged to the private security company contracted to the department. Sadly, three female officers who were held at gunpoint in another room were sexually assaulted and raped. The female staff have been taken in for medical examination and cases have been opened with the police. The investigating team has also visited the department's offices to initiate the investigation and is giving this case a high priority," Ncalane said.

Head of department, Siboniso Mbhele, visited the offices after the incident to address the staff who expressed fear and discomfort. Mbhele said he would be looking closely at tightening security measures to avoid similar incidents recurring in the future. "Our staff is in fear after this incident. This will affect the morale and seriously impact service delivery. The cruelty by these criminals against female security officers is unacceptable. Crime against women must be condemned by all of us, worse during such a critical campaign of no violence against women and children." Mbhele said. Mbhele urged the community to work together with law enforcement to treat this case as a top priority and swiftly bring to book those involved. "We are also addressing the security improvement in our premises to protect staff and our equipment. We appeal to members of the community to work with the police in reporting anyone who is selling departmental equipment," Mbhele said. Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said Wentworth police were investigating cases of business robbery and rape after the incident and that an investigation team has been deployed. "The criminals made off with tools used for road maintenance and other assets," she said.