Central SA
Grandmother arrested after granddaughter's alleged rape─── 12:00 Tue, 10 May 2022
A grandmother was arrested for failing to report her granddaughters rape.
A seven-year-old girl from Welkom was raped and abused by her grandmother’s friend and instead of reporting the incident, she swept it under the rug.
“We can confirm that on 30 April 2022, a seven-year-old girl revealed to her grandmother that she had been raped by a suspect who seems to be the grandmother's friend. When the girl alerted her mother about the abuse, it was reported to Welkom SAPS. A case of rape was registered and assigned to Detective Warrant Officer Anje Tait of Lejweleputswa District FCS,” says police spokesperson Stephen Thakeng,
The 59-year-old grandmother and her 48-year-old male friend and accused rapist were arrested and appeared in the Welkom Magistrate's Court on Monday, where the grandmother was released on R500 bail.
The 59-year-old grandmother was charged with failure to report the abuse, and her 48-year-old male friend was charged with rape.
Regarding counselling for the seven-year-old, Thakeng states that the police are not aware of any counselling yet, but a thorough investigation of the incident is being conducted.
“The 48-year-old male friend remains in custody and will apply for bail on 17 May 2022, with the matter returning to the Welkom Magistrate Court on 6 June 2022,” Thakeng added.
