The management of the SAPS in Mpumalanga has hailed the arrest of a rape suspect, Tshepo Nxumalo (20) who allegedly lured his 17-year-old victim via Facebook and reportedly raped her in the mountain in Standerton.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday, 25 March 2023 then the suspect was arrested on Tuesday, 28 March 2023.
According to the information, the victim and the suspect met via the social media platform Facebook.
The two are said to have had some conversation which led to their meeting next to a mountain in Standerton on Saturday 25 March 2023.
The victim reportedly went along with her one-year-old child. Upon arrival the suspect allegedly convinced the teenage girl that he needed to fetch her brother on the mountain top. They all went together and on their arrival it is alleged that he raped her in front of her child whilst recording a video using his cell phone.
The girl was allegedly raped by the man for the second time before he threatened to circulate the recordings he made via social media platforms, should the lady decide to report the incident. Thereafter the suspect fled the scene and the matter was eventually reported to the police in Standerton and the case was opened.
The case docket was immediately assigned to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) in Standerton for investigation. The investigation team immediately began their work in pursuit of the suspect. Their hard work soon paid off as they cornered the suspect after spotting him in Standerton on Tuesday 28 March 2023.
By Wednesday, 29 March 2023 the man appeared at the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on charges of two counts of rape as well as for common assault. During his court appearance, the matter was postponed to 13 April 2023 for a formal bail application meanwhile the suspect remains in custody.
The SAPS management used the incident as an opportunity to warn the public when using social media platforms to do it cautiously in order to prevent a situation that might place their lives at risk.
Parents are also encouraged to monitor their children in an effort to curb such similar incidents.
