A 22-year-old man allegedly lost approximately R2,000 after a dispute over payment for sexual services in the Verulam CBD on Saturday, 25 July 2026.
According to information released by Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the incident unfolded near Gandhi Park, where the man initially reported that he had been robbed by a group of women. However, as officers investigated the matter and accompanied him to the area where the alleged robbery took place, inconsistencies in his account began to emerge.
After further questioning by reaction officers, the complainant admitted that his original version of events was not accurate. He then provided a different explanation of what had happened before the alleged robbery.
The man told officers that he had arranged to pay a sex worker R50 for sexual services. He said the pair went to an overgrown area near the railway line close to Gandhi Park, where the encounter took place. According to his statement, both parties agreed to proceed without using protection.
Following the encounter, the situation allegedly took an unexpected turn. The woman reportedly demanded R100 instead of the agreed R50, claiming the amount had increased because they had not used protection. The complainant alleged that when she noticed he was carrying a significant amount of cash, she increased her demand once again, this time asking for R200.
The man said he refused to pay the higher amount because it differed from what they had originally agreed upon. He allegedly attempted to leave the scene without handing over any money.
According to the complainant, the woman then called for assistance. Shortly afterwards, two men believed to be associated with her allegedly approached him. The pair reportedly threatened him before robbing him of approximately R2,000 in cash.
The suspects allegedly fled the scene on foot immediately after taking the money. The complainant told officers that the stolen cash was intended for transport and groceries. He also claimed that the two men left with the money without giving any portion of it to the woman involved in the earlier dispute.
Reaction officers conducted a search of the surrounding area in an effort to locate the suspects. Despite their efforts, no arrests had been made at the time the incident was reported.
The incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with meeting strangers in isolated locations and carrying large sums of cash. Authorities often advise members of the public to exercise caution when arranging meetings with people they do not know and to avoid secluded areas where assistance may not be readily available in the event of an emergency.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged robbery remain under investigation, and authorities are expected to continue searching for the suspects involved. No further details regarding the identities of those allegedly responsible have been released.
