A Somali national who allegedly raped a 14 year old primary school girl at Mohlatlereng Village in Maake last week was denied bail when he appeared in the Maake Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The alleged rapist who is renting a shop at the village was arrested last Thursday after the victim’s mother reported the case.
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The case was postponed to October 30, pending further investigation. Police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the victim left home in the morning at about 07:00, to attend school but her mother met her along the road at about 08:00 and started questioning her why she was not at school.
“It then transpired that the victim went to the local shop en route to school and was allegedly raped by the shop owner who thereafter gave her R20. The victim’s mother reported the matter to the police and the suspect was immediately arrested,” said Mojapelo.
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The alleged rape sparked violence in the area in which community members went on the rampage, damaging, looting and torching foreign owned shops.
Public Order Police members were activated and the violence was later quelled.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba commended the members for their swift arrest of the suspect but also condemned the resultant violence that erupted in the area.
Members of the community policing forum said criminals took advantage of the situation to steal from the shops.
At the time of going to the press, police were looking for the perpetrators of the violence.
