UPDATE :Step-father appeared in court for rape in Mbombela

13:05

UPDATE – A 36-year-old man appeared in the Nelspruit District Court this morning on charges of rape, sexual assault, sexual grooming and sharing pornographic material with a minor. The man is accused of raping his 14-year-old step-daughter between 2017 and 2019.

The matter was postponed until April 15 for a bail application. The accused remains in custoy.

MBOMBELA–  Police spokesman Capt Zandile Gwaqa said it was alleged that the incidents took place between 2017 and 2019.

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She said the victim’s mother had recently noticed strange behavior and self inflicted cuts on the victim’s body. She made some enquiries and discovered that the child has been allegedly molested by the father since she was 12-years-old.

Yesterday, the Nelspruit Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit arrested the suspect. He will appear before court today for Rape, Sexual Assault, Sexual Grooming and Displaying Pornographic material to a minor.

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*This article initially stated that the suspect is the father, and that he is divorced from the mother, according to information provided by police. Gwaqa has since rectified her statement.