North West police spokesperson, Adele Myburgh, confirmed to OFM News that the man who was deemed as a person of interest in an alleged rape case of a missing 10-year-old girl in that area died on Wednesday night from injuries sustained during a beating by residents. Myburgh says the police have also received the results of a medical examination and it confirmed that the 10-year-old was raped. A case of rape was subsequently opened.

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The little girl was found by residents in the presence of the deceased inside his shack on Wednesday night after she went missing on Tuesday. The suspect was then severely beaten before he was taken away by the police. He was admitted to the Tshepong Hospital in that area. The gitl was taken to the Thuthuzela Care Centre for a medical examination. Residents then turned their anger towards police officials who had responded to the incident and one officer was injured whilst a police van was set alight.

Meanwhile, the provincial Police Commissioner, Sello Kwena, condemned the attack on the police after one officer was hit by a stone.

“According to information, the members of the community then stabbed and damaged the tyres of the police vehicle and ultimately torched it. At this stage, a case docket has been opened for malicious damage to property and it’s under investigation. After 16:00 on Wednesday, the girl was found inside a shack, close to her house, with a male who was allegedly assaulted by members of the community. The community should work together with the police in the fight against crime through recognised structures such as the Community Police Forum (CPF). The attack on police is an attack against the state and the damage caused will have a negative impact on service delivery," Kwena added.

OFM News