Ladysmith KZN: Gender-based violence (GBV) reared its ugly head again on Monday (August 31) when a young girl was tragically raped while walking home alone from school in the Matiwaneskop area.
According to Ladysmith police spokesperson Captain Bongani Nyathi, the eight-year-old was on her way home when an unknown man called out to her and asked if she would go buy cigarettes for him.
She informed the man that she didn’t know a shop that sells cigarettes and that’s when he grabbed the girl and dragged her to a nearby donga, where he raped her.
The terrified eight-year-old tried to scream and call out for help, but the man clamped his hands over her mouth and continued raping her. He then left the helpless little girl in the donga.
Captain Nyathi continued by stating that after the incident, the victim ran home and told her grandmother what had happened. Detectives from the Ladysmith Family Violence, Child Protection & Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit are investigating a case of rape and are requesting anyone who can assist them in solving this case to please come forward.
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With Women’s Month (August) at an end, uThukela District Mayor Siphiwe Mazibuko urges men to protect and love women.
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