Bloemfontein - A taxi driver allegedly raped a woman in his minibus and then drank poison when he heard police were looking for him, in Phuthaditjhaba, Free State police said on Thursday.
He allegedly raped the 45-year-old woman in his taxi while she was on her way to work in QwaQwa, around 8am on Wednesday, Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said.
Along the way, the driver transferred his passengers to a second taxi. When the woman refused to pay her fare a second time, he threatened to kill her, before he allegedly raped her in the taxi.
“He gave the woman R20 and left her on the road. She managed to take the registration plate of the taxi and reported the matter to the police.
“The suspect, 39, when hearing that police are looking for him, drank a poisonous substance.”
The man was arrested on Wednesday and taken to hospital under police guard. He would appear in the Makwane Magistrate's Court once he was discharged.
Sapa