Limpopo Man Arrested for Assault of Mentally Ill 12-Year-Old Girl
- Police arrested a 42-year-old man in Mathapo village, Limpopo, in connection with the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl with mental challenges
- The suspect took the 12-year-old girl, who was playing with other children on the street, to a graveyard, where the incident occurred
- South Africa consistently holds a high global ranking for sexual assault incidents
Source: Getty Images
LIMPOPO - A 42-year-old man was apprehended by the police in connection with the sexual assault of a 12-year-old mentally challenged girl in Mathapo village, Limpopo. The incident occurred around 4 pm while the girl was playing with other children on the street; the suspect reportedly took her to a graveyard.
According to TimesLIVE, police spokesperson Hlulani Mashaba said that upon reaching the location, the suspect sexually assaulted the girl and instructed her not to disclose the incident to anyone. Subsequently, he accompanied the victim back to her residence.
Community members grew suspicious upon witnessing the two individuals walking together and promptly informed the girl's family. Subsequently, she was brought to a nearby clinic and later transferred to George Masebe Hospital for a thorough medical examination, which confirmed the sexual assault.
The incident was reported at the Gilead police station. The man was apprehended at his residence in Mathale village around 9 pm.
PAY ATTENTION: Let yourself be inspired by real people who go beyond the ordinary! Subscribe and watch our new shows on Briefly TV Life now!
Limpopo police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe expressed deep concern over the crime and praised the swift arrest of the suspect.
"I believe justice will prevail, and the perpetrator, who engaged in barbaric actions by targeting vulnerable victims incapable of defending themselves, will be permanently removed from society."
Mzansi in fear
South Africans expressed anger on Facebook over the occurrence of the crime.
Kganyago Senosha says:
"Death penalty."
Agnes Boulevard noted:
"We are living in a cruel world."
Society Advancing Men's Rights mentioned:
"You're mostly going to find out that he is also mentally ill."
Speaking to Briefly News, Fatima Talia, a transformational life coach and an active community member says that values like love, honesty, empathy and kindness have eroded leaving one in a spiral of violence and lack of respect and regard for human life.
"As a society, we must effect positive change wherever we go; being a spectator and lamenting it's decline is not a solution. "
South Africa grapples with a pervasive issue of sexual assault
According to The Conversation, South Africa consistently ranks among the countries with the highest incidence of sexual assault globally, surpassing even some nations in conflict. The trend has remained relatively consistent since the early 2000s, with slight fluctuations in the numbers.
However, efforts to address the urgent problem of elevated sexual violence often approach assault as an individual issue, creating the misconception that only certain men are perpetrators.
Mitchells Plain hit-and-run killer caught, leaving South Africa devastated
In other news, Briefly News reported that a family in Mitchells Plain faced a heartbreaking loss as their nine-year-old daughter fell victim to a hit-and-run incident. Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi verified the incident, stating that the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Swartklip Road has witnessed chronic speeding by motorists over the years, showing little concern for the neighbouring communities.
Source: Briefly News
