Young girl hides from rape suspect

AN Ndabayakhe teenage girl is in hiding after the court declined to prosecute a rape suspect, owing to insufficient evidence.

Her family decided to keep her in hiding, fearing that the suspect will kill her, after the threats he made following the alleged rape ordeal.

The girl’s mother claimed that her 14-year-old daughter was raped by her uncle at her room in Ndabayakhe Reserve, near Empangeni.

‘It has happened twice. The first incident occurred in September this year. I caught my brother in bed with my daughter at night.

‘When I entered the room to confront him, he said he was there to watch TV, then he put his pants on and left the room.

‘I then confronted my daughter, who broke down in tears and admitted that my brother had raped her several times and threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

‘Due to financial constraints, I was unable to report the matter to the SAPS on the same day. I only managed to report the matter to the police on Saturday, where she was taken to Ngwelezana Hospital for examination and the doctor confirmed that she had been raped.

‘The suspect was arrested the same day but was released after one week. Police told me that the case would be withdrawn owing to lack of evidence.

‘I need justice to be done. My daughter is traumatised and needs counselling,’ she said.

King Cetshwayo Cluster Police spokesperson, Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose, said the court declined to prosecute owing to insufficient evidence.