A 42-year-old Correctional Services official, charged with raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter, and the girl’s mother, charged with being an accomplice, will appear in court again on November 24.

The two were released on R2 000 bail each yesterday.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the man and the victim’s mother (46), who is alleged to have assisted him in committing the crime, were arrested at their home in Lulekani outside Phalaborwa in Limpopo on September 25, after the victim reported the matter to the police.

Ledwaba says a case of rape was opened and transferred to the Phalaborwa Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation.

“When the victim refused to sleep with her stepfather, both suspects [allegedly] assaulted her and forcibly took her to the bedroom where the mother pinned her down and the [alleged] perpetrator raped her,” he adds.

The duo made their first court appearance on September 26 and were remanded in custody. They re-appeared in court yesterday, when they were released on bail.

Ledwaba says the man faces a charge of rape, while the victim’s mother faces a rape accomplice charge.

“The identity of the suspects cannot be disclosed in order to protect the victim,” he adds.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe strongly condemns the incident, describing it as shameful and disturbing.

“All children deserve to be protected and never be abused by anyone, including their parents,” he says.