Man denies raping girl placed in his care
A 30-year-old KwaNobuhle man faces the full brunt of the law after allegedly raping and assaulting a five-year-old girl placed in his care.
The man, who is not being named to protect the identify of his alleged victim, pleaded guilty in the high court in Gqeberha this week to a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm but denied raping the daughter of the woman he is said to have once dated.
The state, however, refused to accept his guilty plea to the assault charge and his plea was recorded by the court as not guilty to assault and two counts of rape.
It is alleged that on May 25 2018, the young girl was left alone at home with the man, who helped her with her homework while her mother was at work.
According to court documents, the girl had difficulty writing out her name so the man allegedly assaulted her on her body using a pipe or similar object and his open hands.
He then allegedly raped the child.
She reported the incident to her mother but it is not clear whether the complaint was reported to police.
When her mother confronted the man, he allegedly apologised.
The girl was taken to hospital for medical treatment and specific injuries were noted.
On August 5 2019, the girl was left alone with the man at his KwaNobuhle home.
The state alleges the man undressed the girl and raped her.
The girl reported the matter to relatives, who took her to hospital for medical treatment and the matter was reported to the police.
The suspect was arrested on August 8 2019 and has been in custody since.
Yesterday, the girl was expected to testify in a closed court but the matter was postponed to today after acting judge Rosaan Kruger dismissed the intermediary appointed to assist the child with her testimony.
Kruger said it was not possible to properly hear the intermediary, who was using court-supplied audiovisual equipment.
State advocate Shandre Grootboom confirmed that a new intermediary would be appointed.