Two men, aged 74 and 43 years, appeared before two separate courts on Monday in Limpopo for sexual assault of minors.
The 74-year-old suspect appeared before the Lenyenye magistrate’s court, and the 43-year-old suspect sat before the Ritavi magistrate’s court.
The case against Mapalankane Moropane, 74, before the Maake magistrates court was postponed until November 20, 2023 for further investigations and he remains in police custody.
Both nabbed at the weekend
Both suspects were caught in police nets at the weekend.
The 74-year-old was arrested on Saturday, and the 43-year-old was nabbed on Sunday.
This after the members of Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit successfully traced the suspects at separate locations.
First incident
It is alleged that a 12-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by the 74-year-old suspect while walking from a nearby shop at 5pm.
She had been sent to the shop by her mother at Tickyline village outside Tzaneen in Mopani District.
Assault on minors
Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said that according to reports, the suspect forcefully kissed the victim and touched her breasts and the private parts.
A case of sexual assault was later opened.
In the second incident, a 43-year-old suspect was arrested at Shikwambani village outside Tzaneen for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.
Mashaba explained that the alleged incident was witnessed by a street hawker on Saturday at about 12:30pm.
Brazen attack on minor
The suspect expressed his love to the minor, touching her breasts and private parts.
Mashaba said: “The street hawker immediately called the victim’s mother to alert her of the incident.
“The mother then reported the matter to the police, where a sexual assault case was opened.
He said the case was transferred to the Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further handling.
“This resulted in the tracing and successful arrest of the suspect at Mhlaba Cross village on Sunday, 12 November 2023.”
