Durban — Swift action by police in arresting a 41-year-old man who allegedly raped a 10-year-old girl, has been commended by Childline in KwaZulu-Natal.
Police said the accused appeared in the Bergville Magistrate’s Court this week. Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said the alleged incident took place on July 24 on a farm in Bergville.
The suspect was arrested by detectives from the Ladysmith Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, and appeared in the Bergville Magistrate’s Court two days later, Ngcobo said.
Childline KwaZulu-Natal’s acting director, Adeshini Naicker, commended the swift action of the Ladysmith detectives.
“We are hopeful that swift arrests, as well as timeous and just convictions, will serve as a deterrent,” Naicker said.
KZN’s Department of Social Development spokesperson, Mhlaba Memela, said such crimes perpetrated against children were “shocking”.
“It’s disturbing that in our province we have men who abuse children in this way. These perpetrators must be removed from society and jailed for a long time. We find solace that (a) suspect has been located and arrested.
“We want to see police conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that the alleged perpetrator is convicted and spends a long time in jail.”
Police were unable to say when the 41-year-old man was expected to appear in court again.
Meanwhile, next week, in the Northern Cape, a 56-year-old man charged with the rape of a 9-year-old girl is expected to again appear in the Springbok Magistrate’s Court.
The accused was refused bail.
On May 6, 2022, the man allegedly raped the girl, and her mother reported the alleged crime to the police.
Mojalefa Senokoatsane, the National Prosecuting Authority’s regional spokesperson, said it was through diligent and progressive detective work by the investigating officer that the accused was arrested on May 11, 2022, and remanded until the commencement of his bail hearing.
During his bail application, the accused, John Jim Crew, fired his legal representative and had to appoint a new legal counsel to handle his matter.
The prosecutor in the case opposed the bail application, due to the seriousness of the charge against the accused.
Senokoatsane said police investigations were continuing.
A 26-year-old accused remanded over the alleged rape of an 8-year-old girl is also expected to appear in court late in August.
Senokoatsane said Aobakwe Johnny, who was also denied bail, was due to appear in the Jan Kempdorp Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on March 1, 2022 the accused allegedly raped the girl near her home in Masakeng, and the alleged crime reported to the police.
Investigations led to the suspect’s arrest on March 10, 2022. He appeared in court the next day.
Daily News