Valentine’s Day turned into a nightmare for the members of a Kensington family who were the victims of a robbery. The family was inside the house when their eldest daughter was also raped during the robbery in the early hours of February 14.

UPDATE: SAPS spokesperson confirms rape and house robbery on Valentine’s Day in Kensington

The spokesperson for Cleveland SAPS Captain Johan Jordaan confirmed the incident happened on York Street, Kensington. He said at least one of the three suspects who broke into the home, sexually assaulted the woman.

“Officers from the Family Violence Crime Unit and Johannesburg East Cluster Trio Task Team were on the scene. The Trio Task Team will investigate this case of house robbery and rape,” said Jordaan.

The suspects also reportedly took valuables from the home and fled.

Also read: Three nabbed by Jeppe SAPS for the rape of a woman

“The three men gained entry to the house by breaking burglar bars and a window. A 52-year-old man heard noises in the house and got up to investigate. He encountered three men who pointed a firearm at him and demanded money. He gave the men R300 but they demanded more. The men then allegedly went to the man’s room where they accosted his wife.”

Jordaan said the suspects took more money, including US Dollars and cell phones.

He said two suspects entered a separate room in the house which the couple’s daughters occupy and also took cash and cellphones.

“The one suspect forced the eldest daughter to the toilet and raped her. The suspects then took the stolen goods and cash and fled the scene.

A case of house robbery and rape was opened.

“The suspects are unknown. The case will be investigated properly and we hope that the suspects will be arrested soon,” Jordaan said.

This is the second rape incident to occur in the Kensington area. A 72-year-old woman was raped 10 days earlier on February 4.

In the neighbouring suburb of Malvern, a woman was allegedly raped by two men in front of her two children, aged one and five on February 9.