The family of an 11-year-old girl who was allegedly raped twice in two months by her neighbour, says it has moved the child out of the village to a safe place until the suspect has been arrested.
Police in Vhulaudzi in the Nzhelele area of Limpopo have launched a manhunt for a neighbour who allegedly raped the minor in February and March, and threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident.
According to the mother, who can't be named to protect the minor's identity, her child had been living in fear since the incidents happened, hence she decided to relocate her from the village.
“She said she is fearful to stay at home because the man might come and kill her as he threatened to do so when he raped her. And my child has changed her behaviour and sometimes she cries as she relives the ordeal,” the mother told Sowetan.
The mother has called on police to speed up their investigations and arrest the suspect so that her child can live a normal life again.
“She didn't want to talk to anyone except me. I then stopped her from going to school because I could see she was not coping.”
The mother said she was at work when the incidents happened.
Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said the suspect allegedly called the child and sent her to the nearby shop on both occasions, and on her return he reportedly raped her at his house.
“The rape was only discovered by the mother late last month. Preliminary information that was acquired pointed to a neighbour who is also said to be a foreign national, and follow-up probes could not yield any positive results as he has apparently disappeared from the area,” he said.
Mojapelo said the police are calling on someone called Belamine or Eshrom to present himself to the nearest police station as it is believed he might be able to assist the police with their investigations.
MEC for social development Nkakareng Rakgoale has described the incident as disturbing, adding that the matter has been brought to the attention of social workers in the area in order for the victim and her family to be provided with psycho-social support.
“We believe that harsher sentences are the most important elements to help us deal with gender-based violence and femicide .... We also want to appreciate the family for having spoken out about the ordeal the child has experienced,” Rakgoale said.
