He briefly appeared in the Springs Regional Court on Monday where he is a facing a charge of statutory rape.
According to Capt Johannes Ramphora, Springs police spokesman, the teen, a 12-year-old boy, was sent to the neighbour by his 37-year-old mother but allegedly never returned.
“The child’s mother thought her mentally ill child was playing with his friend,” says Ramphora.
The family allegedly started looking for the teenager, but couldn’t find him and continued their search until the next morning.
Ramphora says the mother received information from a community member that the teenager was seen leaving a nearby tavern with the suspect.
The family went to the suspect’s house where they found the teenager and the suspect.
“The mother saw bruises on his face and the teenager informed her that the suspect punched and strangled him and forced him to sleep with him.
It is allegedly not the first time the teenager was forced to sleep with the suspect,” says Ramphora.
When the mother called the police, the suspect ran away, but was arrested later during the day in Gugulethu.
Ramphora says the teenager alleges he fainted and woke up naked the next morning.
The suspect remains in custody at Modderbee Prison and has asked for a legal representative.
The case was postponed until Monday.
