The Thabong police warn communities not to take the law into their own hands and mete out mob justice on suspected rapists.
This is in reaction to the aftermath of an incident of alleged crime that took place at around 17:00 on 18 July.
A 12-year-old and a nine-year-old girl were dumping rubbish when a 64-year-old man lured one of the children into his room in a hostel in Thabong.
“In the room the suspect allegedly undressed and raped the child, and the incident was then reported by the victim’s aunt,” says Capt. Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa SAPS.
“Then, on 19 July, residents hunted down the suspect. He was assaulted and sustained injuries. The man was admitted to a hospital in Welkom. He is under police guard.”
The man has been charged with the statutory rape of a 12-year-old girl living with disabilities. The arresting officer is Det. Sgt Griffith Jilimba of the Thabong Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit.
“The residents of Thabong are sternly warned not to take law into their own hands. They must allow the wheels of justice to turn for perpetrators committing crimes against our children. We are appealing that residents must trust the SAPS to conduct a thorough investigation, otherwise those behaving in this manner will also face the full might of the law,” says Thakeng.
