Police Minister Bheki Cele has confirmed that three suspects have been arrested for the rape of eight women in the West Rand on Thursday.
Briefing the media at the ANC’s policy conference in Soweto, Cele said the women were part of a group of 22 young people who were shooting a music video at a mine dump in Krugersdorp.
The Star understands that the group of young people was confronted by illegal miners who are believed to be from Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Cele said one of the rape victims was rapes six times, while another was raped by 10 men.
The young men who were shooting a music video with the women were chased down and stripped naked. Bullets had been fired at them when they tried to run.
Cele told the media that the young women were taken to various hospitals.
Police were looking for seven more men who participated in the rapes.
Cele said the incident was unfortunate. He advised all those who wish to take videos or do creative work near mine dumps to do so in the presence of the police.
The Star understands a former police officer was part of the crew that was shooting the music video.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had assigned various ministers at the policy conference to respond to the incident.
Meanwhile, Cele had to leave a plenary session at the policy conference to attend to the matter. Police operations concerning the matter were under way.