A 29-year-old man was arrested on Sunday for raping a 51-year-old woman in Sandown, Alexandra police said.

Two women were walking along a street after midnight when they were threatened by a man carrying a brick.

One woman ran away and called the police, but the other woman was caught and raped by the man, said Inspector Moses Maphakela.

"The woman was running away but she fell into a manhole and broke her leg."

The man assaulted her, raped her and took her cellphone but he was caught a few minutes later," Maphakela said.

The woman was taken to a nearby hospital.

The man was charged with rape, assault and possession of stolen goods.

He was expected to appear before the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Sapa