Police condemn rapes of young children of aged 3 and 6 years

Even one sexual crime against a child is one too many, according to Lebowakgomo police spokesperson, Capt Mamphaswa Seabi.

Seabi said while no trend regarding this crime had been detected, the police received reports of such crimes quarterly.

This comes after a six-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her 16-year-old uncle in Ga-Ledwaba village outside Lebowakgomo at about 21:00 on September 21. The children live with their grandmother.

Seabi said accor-ding to information, when the grandmother bathed the girl she noticed something was wrong and reported the matter to the police.

The girl had not sustained any visible injuries, Seabi confirmed. He added that the teenager was not arrested, but the docket was sent to the public prosecutor for a decision.

“The 16-year-old was taken to a social worker for counselling. The girl was taken to hospital and thereafter for counselling with a social worker.

“The boy was placed in parental custody and the girl is with her grandmother. The assessment of the probation officer is done and we are waiting for the next inquiry date,” Seabi explained.

Still in the Lebowakgomo policing area, a three-year-old boy was allegedly raped in Ga-Chuene Moshate outside Lebowakgomo on September 23.

According to Seabi, the boy’s father noticed something was wrong when he cried during bathing.

“The boy had slight bruises on his buttocks. We must still establish where the incident happened and the suspect is still unknown. Police investigations continue,” Seabi said.