Elmon Tshikhudo
He allegedly raped the girl and threatened to send her far from home if she told anyone.
When her family finally found out, he told them not to report the case to the police or he would wipe them out.
But the mother of the 11-year-old victim from Vuwani in Makhado alerted the police and a case was opened.
The suspect has now disappeared and the family fears he will return.
According to Awelani Makongoa from Go Getters Youth Against Crime, who spoke on behalf of the family, the rape incidents happened on different occasions.
He said the girl’s ordeal started in February this year when the suspect, who is a neighbour to the family, sent her to a nearby spaza shop to buy a soup pack whereupon on her return she was threatened with a knife and allegedly raped.
“She was told to keep quiet or be taken to Cape Town where she would not be able to see her family again if she told anybody about what happened,” Makongoa said.
It was during the second incident where she was again sent to the spaza shop and raped again that the mother realised there was something wrong with her.
The girl had some bruises in her private parts and after being sent to the doctor she confided with the mother and doctor that she had been raped.
He said the family is under stress and is living in fear.
“They are now living in fear but we are also keeping vigilance as a community and we hope that he will be arrested before he does any harm to the family because he has put them and their daughter through a lot already,” Makongoza said.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed the incident and called upon the community to locate a certain Belamine or Eshrom who they believed could help them in solving the case.
“The police are calling on someone called Belamine or Eshrom to avail himself to the nearest police station as it is believed he might be able to assist in ongoing investigations. And anyone with information is requested to contact the Investigating officer Sgt Mashudu Lusunzi on 079 891 1199 or the Crime stop line 0860010111,” he said.
Picture source: Indian Times
