LIMPOPO – Lebowakgomo police have arrested a 19-year-old for the rape of two minors – a 7-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy – on Wednesday (December 31).

Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, says the complainant, on behalf of the children, came to the police station client service centre to report the incident.

Reports suggest that the children were playing with their friends at a neighbour’s property when the suspect lured them to his place of residence.

He then showed the children pornographic pictures and raped them.

The victims’ guardian noticed they were missing and became suspicious. She then looked for them at their neighbour’s home, where she found them crying. When asked what happened, she was informed of the incident.

A case of rape was opened, and the suspect was immediately arrested.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe says, “Anyone perpetuating gender-based violence against a vulnerable group should be firmly dealt with in terms of the law.”

The suspect will appear before the Lebowakgomo Magistrate’s Court today (January 2), on two counts of rape.