The rape of two minors, allegedly by their family members from Mpumalanga, has shocked the community.

In the first case, a 27-year-old man allegedly raped his 14-year-old niece.

According to the information from provincial police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli, the grandmother of the girl said she had received a call from the girl’s school on September 16. The school informed her that the girl did not feel well and was taken to the clinic. The girl was later referred to hospital, where she was examined by a doctor who confirmed she was pregnant.

“It was then they found out the girl had been raped on several counts between June and August this year, allegedly by her uncle who resides with them. It is said the uncle would sneak into her bedroom, rape her and threaten her not to tell anyone about the ordeals,” Mdhluli said.

The police arrested the uncle on September 17 and he appeared in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on charges of rape on September 19. His case was postponed to September 26 for a formal bail application.

Meanwhile, a similar case was reported in Mhluzi, Middelburg. A 63-year-old man allegedly raped his 18-year-old granddaughter on several occasions between September 2015 and September 2022.

“It is alleged that the suspect would threaten the victim not to tell anyone of the atrocities she was going through. Eventually, the young girl broke her silence. The matter was reported to the police and the suspect was arrested and charged accordingly,” Mdhluli said.

The accused appeared in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday and the case was postponed to September 27 for a formal bail application.

Both accused have been remanded in custody.