A man from Ivory Park was arrested on 10 April for allegedly raping his girlfriend’s four-year-old daughter.
Apparently, the alleged rape was discovered by neighbours and tenants who rented in the same compound as the couple.
According to the police, a group of neighbouring women became concerned after the little girl spent a lot of time in the rented room with the mother’s 23-year-old boyfriend and was on most occasions heard crying.
“They gathered together and requested an old woman to check the child and they discovered that she had been violated. Upon probing further, the women learnt that the stay-in boyfriend was allegedly responsible,” said a spokesperson for the Ivory Park Police Station, Captain Bernard Matimulane.
It is not yet clear when the alleged rape took place. The case has been referred to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit of the Ekurhuleni north cluster for further investigation.
Ivory Park Police Station‘s Commander Brigadier David Ngcobo said he was deeply disturbed and horrified by the incident. He also said that he was grateful to the women and neighbours whose observations and instincts have probably prevented what could have been a long horror story for the child.
“Incidents such as this are a painful reminder of why we, as the community need to be vigilant all year round. I am grateful that, despite the pain that had been inflicted on the child, the intervention by the tenants and the neighbours have put an end to the child’s misery,” said Ngcobo.
The suspect will appear before the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court on charges of rape.
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