Rédaction Africa Links 24 with sabcnews.com
Published on 2024-01-28 09:32:25
Police in Limpopo are currently investigating two separate cases of the rape of minors. The first incident involves a three-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by an unknown suspect at her home in Gavaza village outside Tzaneen. According to the police, the incident occurred on a Friday night when the child was left home alone. When the mother returned and tried to bathe her daughter, the child complained about pains in her genitals. The victim was then taken to a nearby hospital where the results confirmed penetration. The police FCS unit has launched a manhunt for the suspect.
In a separate case, a fifteen-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 29-year-old man while she was sleeping at her boyfriend’s home in Northam Block 7. The suspect has been arrested and is expected to appear in court soon.
Police spokesperson Malesela Ledwaba has advised caregivers to keep a close eye on minor children, emphasizing the vulnerability of children when left unsupervised.
In the North West community of Zeerust, concerned citizens are taking a stand against statutory rape. They are advocating for stricter enforcement of laws surrounding statutory rape and are dissatisfied with the court system in Zeerust, which they feel is not victim-friendly.
A community member, Portia Pitso, reported a case of sexual assault involving a child to the police after observing the child’s unwell appearance at a ceremony. Despite evidence of blood on the child’s private parts, Pitso was disappointed when the case was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
These cases shed light on the prevalence of rape and sexual assault against minors in South Africa and the urgency for stricter enforcement of laws and more victim-friendly court systems.
