Two incidents of alleged child rape shocked the Vhembe region the past week. In one case, a local radio presenter was arrested for allegedly raping a six-year-old boy. In a second case, a 61-year-old resident of Vuvha was arrested on a charge that he had sexually molested a 13-year-old girl.
The 34-year-old radio personality from Mpheni Block B, who works for one of the big stations based in Thohoyandou, was arrested on Monday, 19 May, following an investigation by Waterval detectives. He appeared in the Waterval Magistrate's Court the next day. His case was postponed to 27 May for a formal bail application and he remains in custody.
The name of the accused may not be made public before he has pleaded to the charges against him. The identity of the alleged victims may also not be revealed.
The alleged sexual assault is said to have taken place at the boy's residence in Mpheni Block B. It is said the radio presenter came back from work and started showing pornographic material to a six-year-old boy and his 13-year-old sister before allegedly raping the boy.
Limpopo SAPS spokesperson Brig Hlulani Mashaba said the incident allegedly occurred on 12 May at approximately 15:30 while the boy's mother was away in Pretoria. "The child was left under the care of the grandmother, who alerted the mother that the child was unwell," he said.
According to Mashaba, the mother immediately returned home, only to learn the child had been taken to hospital for a medical examination. "During subsequent interviews, the child disclosed that the suspect had shown him inappropriate material before committing the alleged assault," Mashaba said.
The Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe, expressed serious concerns regarding the incident, saying the suspect's position as a public figure and family member made the case particularly troubling as it represented a profound betrayal of trust.
In a separate case, it is alleged that a 61-year-old resident of Vuvha sexually molested a 13-year-old girl. The incident(s) also allegedly happened between Monday, 12 May and Sunday, 18 May, when he was arrested. He briefly appeared in the Dzanani Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 20 May, where he was charged with rape. His case was postponed to Monday, 26 May, for profiling and to get legal representation. He was remanded in custody.
According to the bits of information made available, the suspect allegedly lured the girl to his home with promises of money. The girl was seen on several occasions playing near the man's house and finally seen entering the house.
On Sunday, the man allegedly waited for the girl's family to go to church before luring her into his home. A suspicious and observant resident raised the alarm, and when the girl was confronted and questioned, she allegedly said that she had been raped. She was taken to the nearby Siloam Hospital for a medical examination. The suspect was then arrested.
Vhembe SAPS spokesperson W/O Vuledzani confirmed the incident and the subsequent appearance in court of the suspect.
The arrest was welcomed by the different structures that also supported the family in court.
Mr Richard Mukhaninga of the Vhembe Concerned Group, one of the organisations fighting against the abuse of women and children and the rights of citizens in Vhembe, praised the police for the speedy arrest of the suspect.
"Our district is under the spell of a rape demon. Incidents of rape have increased. Young girls and boys are at the mercy of these violent rapists. We are just happy the police effected a speedy arrest in this case, and we are also happy he was not granted bail," he said.