Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) detectives have launched a manhunt for a suspect who is alleged to have raped and attempted to murder a 3-year-old girl in Diepsloot on September 7.

Read more: Rape suspect found dead in cell

According to a media statement by the police, the child was in the care of her grandmother while her mother was at work when a man, known to them, took her, and two other children, under the pretence of buying them sweets. “When only two children returned, neighbours alerted the grandmother that the 3-year-old was missing. A search was carried out, and the child was found on top of one of the shacks, lying in a pool of blood. She was rushed to a medical facility for treatment,” reads the statement.

Police said that when they arrived at the scene, the shack where the child was discovered had already been destroyed by the community.

Also read: Woman arrested for alleged rape of three-year-old girl

FCS detectives followed the child to the hospital and registered a case of rape and attempted murder. The team tracing the suspect includes members from the K9 Unit, Drone Unit, and Crime Intelligence.

Police are appealing to anyone with information on the suspects’ whereabouts to contact their nearest police station. Alternatively, information can be shared with Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or anonymously via the #MySAPSApp.

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