A 59-year-old man from Tswelopele in Ivory Park was arrested on 17 July for the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl from the neighbourhood.
According to the police, the 15-year-old stormed out of her house after arguing with her mother. The mother went to look for her at her school and she was told to go and look for her daughter at the old man’s house.
After finding her daughter at the man’s place, the teenager accused the old man of sleeping with her. “The girl confided in her mother and alleged that ‘Mdala’ as the suspect is commonly known in that area, had slept with her, promising to buy her new clothes and a cellphone,” said a spokesperson for the Ivory Park Police Station, Captain Bernard Matimulane.
The teenager was allegedly raped on 17 July the same day of the arrest. Matimulane said that the mother and other members of the community immediately called the police who promptly arrested the suspect. The case was referred to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit for further investigations. The accused is expected to appear before the Tembisa Magistrates’ Court to face a charge of statutory rape.
“Children must continuously be encouraged to speak up whenever something is bothering them. They must at all times be informed that it is not their fault that someone had violated them. They must speak up without being afraid of any judgement from family members,” said station commander for the Ivory Park Police Station, Brigadier David Ngcobo.
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