A well-known radio host from the Vhembe district in Limpopo will be held by the police until May 27, when he will make his second court appearance to request formal bail.
This follows the 34-year-old suspect’s arrest and appearance in the Waterval magistrate’s court on May 19 on allegations of sexually assaulting a six-year-old relative.
According to police, the alleged rape took place at the victim’s home in Mpheni Block B on May 12 at around 3.30pm.
The child’s grandmother informed the girl’s mother that the minor was ill while she was in Pretoria.
Betrayal of trust
Upon her immediate return home, she discovered that the child had already undergone a medical examination at the hospital, which confirmed the sexual assault.
The child revealed in later interviews that the suspect had displayed offensive content prior to the alleged assault.
Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe, the commissioner of police in Limpopo, has since denounced the incident, stating that it is troubling when people who are supposed to be protecting children turn out to be the ones who hurt them, particularly when those people are family members and public figures.
“This case in particular is troubling, as it represents a profound betrayal of trust by a family member,” said Hadebe.
“I want to assure the community that the SAPS [SA Police Service] takes crimes against children extremely seriously, regardless of who the suspect is.”
16-year-old raped repeatedly
In another incident, earlier this week, the Lephalale police arrested a 29-year-old suspect in relation to the rape of a 16-year-old girl in the early hours of May 18.
The suspect allegedly offered to drive two young girls to the Marapong township after meeting them in Lephalale town.
The suspect abruptly changed course, though, and drove to the bushes before stopping and drawing a sharp object. The girls jumped out of the car in an attempt to escape.
Regretfully, a 16-year-old girl was raped repeatedly after the suspect grabbed her after she fell while running.
After the suspect dropped the victim off at a designated location, she told her family about the rape.
The police received the report, opened a rape case, and launched a massive manhunt to apprehend the suspect.
The motor vehicle that fit the description was positively spotted next to a petrol station and stopped as part of a tactical intelligence-driven operation.
The police immediately placed the suspect under arrest.
