Man to Appear in Court for the Alleged Rape of a 6-Year-Old

(The Post News)– A 26-year-old Ethiopian man suspected of raping a six-year-old girl in Arnot near Hendrina has been apprehended.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the incident reportedly occurred on Thursday, 03 April 2025, in the afternoon when the young girl was sent to buy some items from a local tuck shop. The case was reported to the police and investigated by members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. The suspect was then traced and arrested on Saturday, 05 April 2025.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said it is alleged that two children were sent to buy some items from the suspect’s shop when the incident happen. Mdhluli said that the other child ran away when the shopkeeper made his moves on them.

Meanwhile, acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has strongly condemned the heinous act of violence committed against the minor victim. The general also commended the diligent work of the FCS unit members in the arrest of the suspect and reiterated the SAPS’s commitment to ensuring the protection of vulnerable groups, especially children.

Additionally, the general stated that they will stop at nothing to ensure that the victim receives justice in this case, and investigators, working closely with the prosecution, will ensure that the suspect bears the full repercussions of his alleged crimes.

The suspect is expected to appear before the Hendrina Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 07 April 2025.