LIMPOPO – A 44-year-old Kenyan national appeared before the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court on two counts of rape and two counts of sexual grooming.

The identity of the accused is being withheld to protect the identities of the child complainants and to prevent secondary victimisation.

It is alleged that from 2022, the accused recruited learners from a local school and took them to his rented room in town.

He filmed the children naked, gave them money and compelled them to perform sexual acts on him under the pretence that they would be given cellphones.

Victims told to recruit others

The matter came to light after the victims were allegedly instructed to recruit other learners from the same school, resulting in the information being disclosed at the school.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police, and the accused was arrested.

State opposes bail

The State is opposing his release on bail.

The matter was postponed to September 23 for the accused to obtain legal representation and for further investigations. He remains in custody.