Girls are sexually assaulted in broad daylight in street

The most recent incident occurred when a 12-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 74-year-old man in Tickyline. The suspect was arrested on Monday, November 6. “It is alleged that the victim was walking on the street at about 17:05 after her mother sent her to the village to do shopping. According to reports, the victim was forced to kiss the suspect.

He touched her breasts and private parts. In another incident, a 43-year-old man was arrested for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl on Saturday, November 11 at Shikwambani village outside Tzaneen, said Brig Hlulani Mashaba, the police’s provincial spokesperson. The incident was witnessed by a street hawker. It is alleged that a man made a sexual proposal to the girl touching her breasts and private parts while she was walking on the street.

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He said that the street hawker called the victim’s mother to alert her of the incident. “The mother reported the matter to the police where a sexual assault case was opened. The case was transferred to the Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit. The alleged offender was traced and arrested in Mhlaba Cross village on Sunday, November 12. The 74-year-old man appeared before the Lenyenye Magistrate’s Court and the 43-year-old man appeared before Ritavi Magistrate’s Court on Monday, November 13.

The MEC of Social Development, Nandi Ndalane, said the incidents are only a week before the launch of the 16 Days of No Violence Against Women and Children campaign. “What kind of men abuse and attack minors in this manner? This is unacceptable and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” said Ndalane. The MEC welcomed the arrest of the suspects and said she hopes the offenders will be prosecuted with an appropriate harsh sentence that will serve as a deterrent to gender-based violence perpetrators and sexual offenders.