Photo: Unsplash
Photo: Unsplash
A local community in Limpopo has been left outraged this weekend after a 58-year-old ward councillor was arrested by police in Mokwakwaila outside Tzaneen for allegedly raping a 14-year-old child.
Rape accused ‘tried to buy victim’s silence’
SAPS has since issued a statement, detailing the heinous nature of this criminal act. They have revealed that the sordid incident also saw the suspect try and bribe the girl so she would not go to the authorities and report her ordeal:
“The victim was allegedly offered a lift by the suspect on Thursday 11 October 2020 at about 12:00. The suspect then drove into the bushes next to Rampepe village where he allegedly raped the child. He thereafter reportedly took her home, gave her money and a cellphone, and told her not to tell anyone.”
Limpopo SAPS statement on the alleged rape of a 14-year-old in
However, this attempt to silence the teenager fell flat. It’s understood that the child started crying when questioned by her mother about the cellphone. She then told her what had happened. The matter was reported to the police and the Councillor was arrested on Saturday evening.
Limpopo community outraged by ward councillor arrest
The councillor will appear in the Bolobedu magistrate court tomorrow, on Monday 5 October 2020. The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has strongly condemned this incident and praised the police for acting swiftly in arresting the suspect:
“As the country continues to fight against the scourge of Gender-Based Violence, it is disturbing that even some leaders in society, who are supposed to support the police in this fight, are also arrested for rape.”
Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba
#sapsLIM A 58yr-old Ward Councillor will appear in the Bolobedu magistrate court tomorrow after he was arrested last night by the police in Mokwakwaila outside Tzaneen for allegedly raping a 14yr-old child. #ActAgainstAbuse MLhttps://t.co/vgyuaQpshV pic.twitter.com/H14fER4t9W
— SA Police Service ?? (@SAPoliceService) October 4, 2020
