Limpopo police in Hoedspruit arrested a 24-year-old Mozambican man for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl at a house where he had been called to fix a water tank.
The rape incident happened at Scotia village, outside Hoedspruit in the Mopani District, according to Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba - police provincial spokesperson in Limpopo.
“According to the information available at this stage, it is alleged that the suspect, as a plumber, was called to fix a water tank at the victim's homestead on Friday at about 4pm,” said Mashaba.
The plumber allegedly raped the teenage girl victim while her mother was away from home.
“It is alleged that in the process of working on the tank, the suspect suddenly grabbed the victim and threatened to stab her with a knife. He subsequently raped her in the absence of the mother,” said Mashaba.
“It is reported that the victim related the incident to her mother on the same day when she came back home. The incident was reported at Hoedspruit police station and the docket was transferred to Phalaborwa family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit for further investigation.”
Police successfully tracked down the alleged rapist on Saturday, and charged him with rape and contravention of the Immigration Act.
On Monday, Mashaba said the 24-year-old man was scheduled to appear before the Hoedspruit Periodical Court.
Last week, IOL reported that a serial rapist from Limpopo was sentenced to two life terms, plus 17 years imprisonment in the Nkowa-Nkowa Regional Court.
Tumelo Doctor Malatji, 37, was convicted on three counts of rape, kidnapping, and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The incidents took place between 2014 and 2015 within the Bolobedu area.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Limpopo said Malatji’s modus operandi was targeting his victims leaving taverns, accosting them and forcing them to secluded areas at knifepoint where he raped them.
The court heard one of the victims was 15-years-old when the rape took place on Christmas Day. She had been in the company of her friends and on her way home, she came across Malatji who assaulted her and forcefully took her to the river where he raped her more than once.
IOL