A young girl from Barcelona in Etwatwa was admitted to hospital after she was raped. The community retaliated by killing the man they believe was responsible for the crime.

Benoni SAPS spokesperson Nomsa Sekele, says the girl was playing in the street on March 20 when her neighbour asked her to go and buy cigarettes for him.

Sakele says when she returned with the cigarettes, the man allegedly grabbed her, pulled her into his house and locked the door.

“He threatened her not to scream. The child was then raped,” explains Sekele.

The victim was allegedly kept at the man’s house all night. He let her go the next day.

When she got home, she reportedly told her parents about the incident and was taken to hospital where she was admitted.

A case of rape was opened at the Etwatwa SAPS and later transferred to the Benoni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.

After being discharged from hospital on March 25, the child identified the suspect. Community members took the law into their own hands and the man was beaten to death.

“The case [of rape] has since been closed because of the death of the suspect. Investigations into the death of the suspect is continuing. No one has been arrested,” says Sekele.