A 42-year-old Bethal man reportedly raped his daughter, who was 13 years old. The alleged rapist is scheduled to return to Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Friday to file a formal bail application. The accused individual had previously appeared in court on Tuesday last week.
“His court appearance came after his arrest by the family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit. It is further alleged that the victim was sexually victimised by the suspect during September 2023,” said Mdluli.
[ Mpumalanga Man Arrested For Raping His 8-year-old Daughter ]
“Reports indicate that on January 4, it was discovered that the girl is pregnant. Thereafter, the suspect apparently threatened to kill the victim if she revealed to anyone about what has happened between them.”
It is also alleged that the 42-year-old man also offered the teenage girl money to buy her silence.
“Later that day, the stepmother approached the victim to ask her about the pregnancy and that is when she broke her silence and (revealed that) her father is the suspect,” said Mdhluli.
“The brave stepmother reportedly informed the girl’s biological mother, and then the matter was eventually reported to the police. The case was assigned to the FCS unit which conducted the investigation.”
The rape suspect was detained and charged with rape on Monday of last week.
Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, the provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, praised the bravery of two women who reported abuse against vulnerable girls.
She said South Africa needed more parents who don’t turn away.
“We really need mothers that will blow the whistle and not tolerate such types of crime in the name of love at the expense of innocent children,” said Manamela.
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