An Ivory Park woman has been arrested after she allegedly demanded money from the man who allegedly raped her child.
The Ekurhuleni District of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences arrested the woman on 2 September for allegedly demanding compensation from an alleged rapist’s family instead of opening a case against the suspect.
According to Ivory Park Police Station spokesperson Captain Bernard Matimulane, the woman’s 11-year-old daughter was reportedly raped early last month, allegedly by a 19-year-old boy known to the family.
“Upon being informed by the victim, the woman visited the suspect’s family, entered into some negotiations and was promised R5 000 and payment for the doctor’s consultation fees.
“A certain portion of the money was paid to the woman, and it was when the outstanding money was not forthcoming that the woman decided to open a case of rape and kidnapping against the 19-year-old suspect,” said Matimulane.
He added that the woman was then charged with contravening Section 54 of the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act of 2020 which obliges her to report this matter to the police.
The station commander for the Ivory Park Police Station, Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo, expressed shock at this parent’s behaviour for not acting in the best interest of the child.
“As parents we have an obligation to report incidents such as this one to the police in order for the victim to get all the justice they deserve and to protect other potential victims.”
Ngcobo added that failure to report crime, especially crime as serious as this one, amounts to a huge betrayal of the victim.
Matimulane said that the woman was expected to appear in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court.
He concluded that the 19-year-old suspect has also been arrested and is still standing trial at the Tembisa Magistrates’ Court to answer for the charges laid against him.
Details: For more information or to report any crime, please contact the Ivory Park Police Station on 011 990 9600.
