Bloemfontein - None of the women allegedly mutilated by Peter Frederiksen, the Bloemfontein man who was found with 21 pieces of female genitalia stashed in his home’s freezer, have come forward – raising fears that they might be dead.
Frederiksen, a Dane, was arrested last week in Bloemfontein after the police made the gruesome discovery at his house.
Neatly packaged, labelled and documented female genitalia and a large collection of photographs of female genitals – some belonging to a girl possibly as young as seven – were among the items found hidden on his property.
The discovery has sent shockwaves across the country.
Frederiksen allegedly lured women, mostly from Lesotho, to his home before sedating them and performing female circumcisions on them, keeping the severed parts as trophies.
The police also confiscated surgical equipment and anaesthetics, allegedly used during the illegal operations, from his home in Eden Glen, Langenhovenpark.
On Monday, Frederiksen, 63, made a brief appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court via audiovisual recording. His case was postponed to next week, when he is expected to apply for bail.
He faces charges of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, possession and manufacturing of child pornography, possession of human tissue and contravention of the Medicine Act.
Members of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) gathered outside the courtroom and called on the court to deny Frederiksen’s bail application.
“We have been left deeply shocked by these horrific crimes committed against women,” said one of the protesters, Iris Magamise. The private parts of the victims have been left mutilated and permanently scarred by a man who probably took pleasure in their agony.” Added Mapaseka Nkwane: “We are going to make sure he rots in jail.”
The ANCWL raised concerns about the whereabouts of Frederiksen’s alleged victims.
“Where are these women? What happened to their bodies? Are they missing? Are they dead?” league members asked.
It is unclear whether the victims were alive when the operations were performed.
The ANCWL also called for Frederiksen’s gun shop in Bloemfontein, Impala Arms, to be shut.
While various media reports at the weekend indicated that Frederiksen’s wife had fled to Lesotho, she was on Monday seen at Impala Arms with the investigating officer, Lynda Steyn.
She was gathering bags containing women’s and children’s clothing and then leaving in a car with people believed to be family members.
Steyn said that while the wife feared for her life, she would not be taken to a safe house because that would prevent her from seeing her two children.
Frederiksen’s wife reportedly alerted police to the collection of female genitalia stored in the freezer after he allegedly drugged her and also mutilated her private parts.
Frederiksen has apparently since placed all the blame on his wife, saying she was the one who performed the operations.
Steyn also confirmed that no victims had come forward by Monday, despite calls for any woman who might have fallen prey to contact the SAPS.
Police have requested any woman who believes she may have been operated on by Frederiksen to urgently contact Sergeant Lebo Bosman at 082 527 6309.
Diamond Fields Advertiser