The mother of the boy said she noticed that something was wrong with her son, so she decided to take him to a clinic.

Mhluzi Police spokeswoman Sergeant Thabitha Leshilo said the nurse at the clinic advised the mother to open a rape case.

While the mother and son were on their way to the police station, the nine-year-old told his mother that he was playing in the street when a man approached him and asked if he would help him with his laundry.

The nine-year-old went with the man to his house, the man then allegedly closed the door, forced himself on the child and raped him.

The suspect allegedly promised to give the child R5 000 if he didn’t tell anyone about the incident.

The community in the area heard about the rape, tracked the man down and assaulted him. The man sustained injuries and was transported to the Middelburg Provincial Hospital.