A 41-year-old man appeared before the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on 11 April 2023, in connection with the alleged rape of his own niece (19).
During his court appearance, the matter was postponed to 21 April 2023 for a formal bail application meanwhile the suspect remains in custody.
According to the report, it is alleged that on Saturday, 8 April 2023, the female victim was at a certain tavern in Bushbuckridge together with her male friend as well as the suspect and another female person.
In the early hours of Sunday 9 April 2023, the male friend reportedly approached the uncle and requested a lift for the victim as he was going to a different direction. It is said that the uncle and his female companion as well as the victim agreed and they all drove together in the suspect’s vehicle.
It is further alleged that on arrival at a certain house, the uncle who is also the suspect, got out of the car with his female companion, leaving behind the victim, only to return to the vehicle alone. It was during this time that the suspect went with her to a certain place and allegedly raped the victim multiple times.
The victim reported the matter to the police the next morning. A case was opened and after an investigation was conducted the suspect was traced and arrested on Monday morning, 11 April 2023 hence his court appearance.
The incident was strongly condemned by the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela who raised a concern especially when Gender-Based-Violence violence is allegedly perpetrated by those closely related to the victims.
