Judge and gavel in courtroom

An eight year-old girl who was allegedly raped twice by her neighbour is fearing for her life.

That’s because the man who allegedly raped the grade three learner from Masodi village, West of Mokopane is still roaming the streets.

The victim’s mother, who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of her daughter, said the girl is traumatised and contemplating on dropping out of school. She said that the perpetrator has already confessed to raping the girl earlier this year.

The first rape incident allegedly took place at the victim’s house while the second happened at the accused’s home. 

The mother said her daughter told her that since the beginning of the year, the alleged rapist who is in his late forties has been communicating sex talk with her.

She said “My daughter told me that one day, the man from next door asked her if she had started menstruating.

She told me that the man said he wanted to teach her a game. This really shocked me and I confronted him. I told him that such talks will lead to sexual intercourse. When I asked my daughter what was going on between her and the man, she started crying and told me that the man has raped her twice.”

The mother said she opened a case of rape at the Mahwelereng police station but the man was never arrested. 

Although he has since apologised, the angry mother said she wants justice for her daughter.

She said “I don’t understand why this man is not arrested even after confessing to nine witnesses that he has abused my daughter. His apology is meaningless to me and my daughter.”

A neighbour, who spoke to Mopani Times on the condition of anonymity, said the alleged rapist is a known sexual predator who preys on young girls.

She said “This man has a tendency of inviting girls to his house and we suspect foul play.”