GEORGE NEWS - A man in his early 40s was arrested on Sunday 20 January after he was accused of raping his girlfriend's daughter (12). The man was reported to the police after he confessed to sleeping with the child.
According to a woman who played an important role in having him arrested, he made inappropriate comments about the child in a conversation with her, saying he prefers to "sleep with the girl to sleeping with her mother". The woman then informed other community members who investigated the matter and reported the man to the police. It appears that the man raped the girl occasionally when her mother was not around.
Following the arrest, community members in Zone 7 organised a meeting on 22 January, saying they don't want the man to return to their community. Residents also said they will be at the George Magistrate's Court when he appears on 8 February.
Local councillor Khayalethu Lose condemned the incident. "The man gained the trust of the child, only to rape the defenceless child. I am very proud of my community and think whenever such things happen we must do the same and show unity and condemn rape of women and children or any other violence," he said.
The girl has been placed in a safe house. Comment from the police had not been received by the time of going to print.
53 arrested
Thembalethu police arrested 53 suspects, 21 of them women, from Friday to Tuesday, 18 to 22 January. They were arrested for various crimes ranging from housebreaking and theft, common assault, possession of dagga, riotous behaviour to assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and rape.
The suspects were aged between 17 and 51.
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