A 20-year-old Standerton man is accused of raping a 17-year-old girl who he allegedly lured via social media platform Facebook, she claims.

Upon their meeting last Saturday, he allegedly took her up a hill in Standerton.

According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the victim, accompanied by her one-year-old child, had reportedly gone along with the suspect to the hill.

“Upon arrival on the mountain, he allegedly raped her in front of her child while recording a video using his cellphone,” Mohlala said. “The girl was allegedly raped again before he threatened to circulate the recordings he made via social media platforms, should she decide to report the incident.”

Police managed to arrest the accused on Tuesday and he made his first appearance in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The suspect faces charges of two counts of rape as well as one for common assault. He will appear again on April 13 for a formal bail application, and remains in custody until then.