A 29-year-old man from Lyttelton, Centurion, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s court on Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl.

National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the man was facing charges of rape and exposing his genitals to his girlfriend’s daughter.

“The accused and the mother of the child were in a relationship,” Mahanjana said.

“It is alleged that on October 31, while the mother of the minor was at work, the child went to the accused’s shack to fetch a bank card to buy bread.”

Mahanjana said when the minor entered the accused’s home, the man undressed her and went on to sexually violate her.

“The following morning the mother noticed stains on the child’s underwear. Upon enquiring, the child told her what had happened.”

Mahanjana said the mother took the child to hospital and a case was later opened with the police.

The accused was arrested the same day.

The case has been ordered back to court on November 10 for the state to verify the accused’s alternative address and set a date for a formal bail application.