A 42 YEAR-OLD MALE ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY RAPING A 12 YEAR OLD MENTALLY CHALLENGED GIRL

According to the police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, it is reported that the victim was playing with other children on the street at about 16:00 when a 42 year-old known suspect took her to the graveyard. Upon arrival, the suspect raped a 12 year-old girl and ordered the victim not to tell anyone about the incident.

Afterwards, the suspect walked with the victim to her residence. The members of the community became suspicious when they saw the duo walking together and alerted the victim’s family.

Brigadier Mashaba says the mentally challenged girl was taken to a local clinic and later transferred to George Masebe hospital for medical examination. The Doctors at the hospital confirmed that indeed the girl was raped and the matter was reported at Gilead police station.

“A rape case was opened and an immediate manhunt of the suspect was activated resulting in hid apprehension while at his residence in Mathale village at about 21:00.” confirmed Brigadier Mashaba

The Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe is extremely disturbed about the rape incident of the mentally challenged girl and commended the immediate arrest of the suspect. “I am confident that justice will prevail and the perpetrator will be permanently removed from the society due to his barbaric actions of targeting vulnerable victims that cannot defend themselves, ” she said.

The suspect is expected to appear before the Mahwelereng Magistrate court tomorrow on Friday 05 January 2024.

Police investigations are continuing.