Councillor arrested for allegedly trying to rape a 12-year-old
The councillor’s case was postponed for further investigation.
A 39-year-old councillor was arrested in Ga-Nala for alleged house burglary, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and attempted rape.
His arrest on May 5 caused outrage on several social media platforms.
According to information received from provincial police, the councillor reportedly visited his friend where they had a couple of drinks. It is further alleged that while still in the house, the councillor allegedly made some inappropriate sexual comments toward a 12-year-old girl.
“Thereafter the two friends went out for leisure at a certain tavern nearby,” said provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.
The girl’s mother had reportedly gone to work and the girl and her sister (26) are said to have been temporarily left to stay with their uncle who is the councillor’s friend.
According to police, the councillor then left the tavern without telling his friend.
JUST IN: Another Councillor (39) arrested for trying to rape a girl (12) in Kriel, Mpumalanga. He has also been charged with house breaking and assault. pic.twitter.com/7qJl9CwB72
— Cliff the Reporter (@CliffShiko) May 8, 2023
“At about 23:30, the elder sister alleged that she heard somebody breaking into the house. She further alleges that the person tried to open her bedroom door which was fortunately locked. She then immediately called a friend and requested him to alert the police.”
Mohlala said the man allegedly assaulted the teenage girl and tried to rape her. Whilst still in a state of shock, the elder sister reportedly heard her younger sister calling for her uncle to rescue her.
The report further states that the intruder responded and said that the uncle was not in the house.
At that moment, the police fortunately arrived and the intruder reportedly escaped through the window, leaving behind his T-shirt as well as his cellphone.
Police went after the suspect and caught him and according to the report, the man was wearing a pair of blue jeans as well as brown shoes without a top when he was cornered. He was charged accordingly.
It is also reported that the suspect further sustained some injuries on the head.
“As the police went through the scene during the probe, they came across some blood drops in the house as well as on the window. The suspect’s car was also found about 50m away from the house,” Mohlala said.
The councillor appeared in Kriel Magistrate’s Court on Monday, May 8.
The case was postponed to May 12.
“The alleged attempted rape happens at a time when the organisation is fighting the demon of Gender-Based Violence against women and children. As a public representative, a councillor should be an embodiment of the values that inspires hope amongst the people. We regret as an organisation the alleged unethical conduct by the councillor,” said Mr Sello Matshoga regional secretary of the ANC.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has condemned the incident whilst applauding men and women in blue from Ga-Nala for their swift response thereby arresting the suspect.
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