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The incident occurred at around 1 am on Monday at the International Organisation of Migration Reception and Support Centre.

The suspect had been deployed to IOM where he conducted screening of the illegal immigrants with other security agents.

At this centre deportees from South Africa are offered overnight accommodation, food and transport to their respective homes on voluntary basis.

The police spokesman for Matabeleland South Inspector Philisani Ndebele said the suspect Brighton Mavhiya(27) was now assisting police with investigations.

He said on the day in question the woman age 31, was repatriated from South Africa at around 5 pm for breaching that country’s immigration laws.

She was handed over to Mavhiya and other authorities at the IOM reception centre for further assistance.

“After undergoing a rigorous screening process, the woman was offered overnight accommodation pending transportation to her home the following day (Monday),” said Insp Ndebele.

“She approached Mavhiya and asked him to buy some airtime near the same reception centre. The suspect then offered to bring the airtime later in the day and was shown the woman’s room.”

Insp Ndebele said Mavhiya disappeared from the reception centre and resurfaced on the following day at around 1 am.

Mavhiya, said Insp Ndebele, then entered the woman’s room and forced himself on the victim’s bed and raped her once after which he disappeared into darkness. He said the matter was reported to the police immediately leading to Mavhiya’s subsequent arrest.
He said Mavhiya would soon appear in court charged with rape.