A 58-year-old man suspected of raping a toddler who was left in the care of a nanny in St Francis Bay has been arrested and is expected to appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court soon.
The 19-month-old girl was transported from Humansdorp Hospital to Dora Nginza in Port Elizabeth.
A source who asked not to be named, said the attack happened on Sunday when the child’s mother left the baby in the care of a nanny while she went to church.
“Later that morning, the nanny was joined by a man and they went on a drinking binge,” the source said.
“The child-minder passedout and the man [allegedly] raped the child.”
The man, who cannot be named until he appears in court, was severely assaulted by angry Sea Vista residents.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Majola Nkohli confirmed that a man had been arrested in connection with the alleged rape and was under police guard in hospital.
Police had received a phone call regarding a baby abandoned in the bushes, he said.