ELUKWATINI – Community members embarked on a protest outside the local Magistrate’s Court today where a 26-year-old was appearing for the alleged rape of a 2-year-old girl.
The suspect allegedly lured the toddler to an abandoned house where he allegedly raped her on 6 February. He was arrested following a manhunt by community members after the girl was seen bleeding between the legs by a passerby who alerted her grandmother.
He appeared in the Elukwatini Magistrate’s Court on 7 February and his case was remanded to today for bail application.
“We are here as the community to handover a petition to the court management that we oppose the granting of bail to the suspect by the strongest terms. He does not belong in society because he might repeat the offense,” said local Sanco chairperson Wayne Mashele.
READ | Man nabbed for alleged rape of a two-year-old
The suspect was previously convicted for the rape of an eight-year-old girl. He was 16-years-old when he committed the crime.
The victim’s grandmother who can not be named to protect the identity of the minor, said the family is still trying to come to terms with what happened.
“We are deeply hurt. The child is still traumatized and she gets scared when sleeping at night. We are waiting for a referral to another hospital for further examination because even her right foot looks dislocated,” she said.
Although the grandmother didn’t know the suspect before the incident, she revealed that the toddler’s mother, a 22-year-old college student allegedly went to the same high school as the suspect.
READ | Suspect rapes his grandmother and cousin
Chairperson of the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality Multiparty Women’s Caucus, Precious Hlatshwayo said that they were very disturbed and saddened by the incident. “We are in support of the call for no bail against the suspect. We are also in dialog with the tribal authority to establish programs that would focus on the conduct of men,” Hlatshwayo said.
Simon Nkosi from the Embhuleni Tribal Authority urged the community not to leave houses and stands unattended.
“This is a horrific act to take place in our society. As the chieftaincy, we will take back any piece of land that is left unattended because criminals are harboured there,” said Nkosi.
Meanwhile, African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) branch chairperson, Dumisani Mahlalela called for the review of the justice system. “We are pleading for government to intervene in cases of Gender Based Violence. Harsher sentences must be introduced and the suspects should be granted bail,” he said.
The case was remanded to 19 February and the suspect remains in police custody. The petition was received by the Court Manager, Tsholofelo Phenkola.
