On Monday, 20 June, police arrested a 73-year-old man in Newtown, KwaZulu-Natal, for alleged rape. The victim is a foster child who refers to him as her grandfather.
According to South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo, the accused is a foster parent to a 17-year-old girl, and the two have been living together in Newtown A, Inanda, since the child’s mother died.
“She alleges that her grandfather started raping her from 1 January 2017 until 31 May 2022,” said Ngcobo.
On Monday, the alleged rapes were reported to the Inanda police station, and the suspect was immediately arrested by the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offenses Unit.
The grandfather is scheduled to appear in the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, June 22. “We are appealing to communities to be more vigilant and report such atrocities to police immediately. Young children should be protected from these despicable predators that live in our communities.
“Community leaders and community organisations are requested visit vulnerable children to ensure that those who are tasked to protect them, do not abuse them,” said the police spokesperson.