By Doreen Mokgolo
- The 29-year-old suspect allegedly began raping the girl when she was six years old during visits to her older sister’s communal house.
- The mother discovered the pregnancy in April when she noticed physical changes in her daughter, with tests confirming she was nearly five months pregnant.
A group of Ugandan community members gathered outside Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday demanding justice for an 11-year-old girl raped and impregnated by a 29-year-old man.
The suspect appeared for a formal bail application but the matter was postponed to Friday, 16 May to allow the court to rule on the media application to cover the proceedings.
Protesters held placards outside court calling for the suspect to be denied bail amid fears he might flee the country.
The mother told Scrolla.Africa that the suspect allegedly began raping her daughter five years ago when she was just six while visiting her older sister in a communal house.
“I interrogated her and she disclosed that the suspect raped her while she was visiting the couple during the December holidays where she spent a month,” said the distraught mother.
“She told me that during the period he raped her on three occasions, and threatened her life should she tell anyone about the incident.”
The mother became concerned when she noticed her daughter’s swollen breasts and bulging tummy on 21 April, prompting a visit to their family doctor.
Medical tests confirmed the child was 18 to 20 weeks pregnant and had been raped.
Police arrested the suspect on 22 April after the mother reported the crime.
The mother revealed a disturbing detail about the suspect’s behaviour before the pregnancy was discovered.
“The suspect called her to check if she had her periods and after she told him she didn’t, he told his wife who also called her to confirm,” she said.
“I found this troubling that they were both concerned about her periods.”
Since the arrest, the suspect’s family has allegedly tried to make the case disappear.
“They offered to take care of my daughter and cover all her medical cost and financial needs which we turned down,” the mother said.
“I want him to pay for what he did to my daughter, he stole her innocence and now she is living with the trauma.”
Picture above: The signs outside court.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
