An 18-year-old young man from Silver City informal settlement in Bekkersdal, outside Randfontein, is in the dock for the rape of his eight-year-old niece.

News of this emerged during a door-to-door campaign on October 28 with the aim of identifying victims of crime and addressing the criminal element. It was during this time when the gender-based violence brigade received a tip-off about a child victim suspected of being sexually abused by one of her family members.

Bekkersdal Police spokesperson Linkie Lefakane said the brigade followed up on the information.

“The matter was reported to the police and assigned to Detective Constable Lutendo Ligidima of the Carletonville Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit who swiftly attended to the incident and arrested the 18-year-old uncle shortly after a case was opened.

“Crimes affecting women and children continue, despite educational talks conducted on a daily basis by the police, who partner with other departments in an attempt to lessen such incidents. This is an an eye-opener because sometimes those causing harm to others are mostly the ones who are supposed to be protecting them. Let us take a stand to end gender-based violence,” said Lefakane.

She added that the victim was taken to a local clinic where it was confirmed that she was indeed penetrated.

The suspect made a brief court appearance at the Westonaria Magistrate’s Court on Monday and will remain in custody pending his bail application.