According to the Khutsong police’s communication officer, Captain Eddie Boboko, a 12-year-old girl was raped in the Rivonia informal settlement in Khutsong on 6 and 7 February. “The victim had asked her mother if she could sleep over at a friend’s place. She alleges that a man her friend knew asked them to accompany him to park his taxi. They went with the suspect to his friend’s place. Later, the friend asked them to go and buy beers at a certain tavern in Extension 3. They took a taxi to get the beers, went back and started drinking. The victim’s friend and the suspect’s friend went to sleep and the girl asked the suspect to take her home. He refused and raped her instead. In the morning, the victim’s friend saw her crying and opened the door so she could go home. When she got there, she reported the matter to her mother,” says Boboko. The police in Khutsong assigned the case to Sgt Maria Gaobonwe from the police’s family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit. Through preliminary investigation, she followed the leads and arrested the suspect (32) within hours of the case being reported. The suspect was also linked to the rape of a 13-year-old girl in the same area on 3 February. The victim alleges that she and her friends came across the suspect driving a taxi and went with him to a shack where they started drinking. The victim alleges that she wanted to go home and the suspect refused, saying it was late and she should rather go the following day. He then locked the doors and said they should go to sleep. She went to bed with the suspect, who raped her during the night. The police arrested a 17-year-old girl on 10 February, after she was linked to the two cases. She was charged with sexual grooming, which is the soliciting or enticing the commission of an indecent act with a person under the age of consent. The police heard that the teenager had invited the young girls to the suspect’s place to drink alcohol, after which he slept with the victims. He has been charged with two counts of rape. Both have made their first appearance in Oberholzer court. The man was denied bail while the 17-year-old girl was remanded under parental care. They were reminded to appear in the Oberholzer Magistrates Court again on Tuesday, 16 February. “Gender-based violence is one of the main focus areas of the SAPS’ national strategies to decrease crime against women and children. Rape is one of the priorities in the Khutsong precint. Young girls are often targeted and invited by adults, who rape them in their houses,” says Boboko. The police have compiled tips and advice on how not to fall prey to this crime. * Stay away from open spaces with long grass or dark areas. * Don’t take any gifts or money from strangers as they will expect something in return. * Keep an eye on your drink. * In cases where friends manage to escape the danger, they should seek help or call 10111 to rescue the victim. The station commander, Colonel Melinda Prinsloo, applauded the members of FCS for their swift response and welcomed the arrests. She is also concerned about the reports of rape where minors are targeted. Prinsloo urges men to stand up and take responsibility and stop raping young girls. “We will ensure that those who break the law are brought to book and face the full might of the law. We urge the community to continue sharing information on the Crime Stop hotline 08600 10111 or Khutsong SAPS at 018 783 9022/ 24,” she said. 
