A week after a complaint was laid against a man who allegedly raped a nine-year-old boy, the suspect has finally been taken in for questioning.
At the same time, residents in Kwazakhele met to discuss the boy’s situation, and safety in the community.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge confirmed that the alleged rapist – who lives near the boy’s Kwazakhele home – was taken in for questioning on Tuesday.
“The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) took in the [suspect] for questioning as part of [their] investigation procedure,” Beetge said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Beetge said the suspect would remain in custody.
“We have 48 hours to make a decision on whether to charge him or release him.
“There are other circumstances at play which we do not wish to comment on, but he will remain in custody [until further notice],” he said.
This comes after the nineyear-old was savagely raped twice two weeks ago, sustaining serious injuries that hampered his ability to walk.
The little boy and his 22year-old sister managed to open a case at the New Brighton police station on Wednesday last week
That came after they had been turned away from police stations on two occasions – at New Brighton on Tuesday last week and at the Kwazakhele police station on Saturday last week.
It was only after a family friend took to Facebook asking for help that a member of victim support organisation the White Door Victims Unit assisted, ensuring that police took the boy’s statement.
The boy’s sister, who is also
his primary care-giver, said they were pleased the man had been taken in.
She said: “I am very happy and relieved that we won’t have to worry about him walking up to the house anymore.”
She said community members had visited her early on Tuesday morning before she was called by the investigating officers who told her the man was being questioned.
“One of our community leaders came to see how we were doing.
“She told me they were going to a meeting to talk about my brother’s situation.
“When the investigators called I thought it was because they heard about the meeting.
“Instead they told me they were going to take the [alleged] rapist,” she said.
The boy’s sister said their grandmother had also returned to live with them permanently at their Kwazakhele home and that had brought some comfort to her brother. Her grandmother had moved to Johannesburg recently to live with family members due to her old age.
Angry community members who attended Tuesday’s meeting, and who did not want to be named, said they would take matters into their own hands if the alleged rapist was released.
One said: “We are concerned not only about the safety of the young boy but also for our own children.
“We want him off our streets and if he is not arrested we will sort the problem out ourselves.”