Grandfather arrested for sexual abuse of his granddaughter

In yet another awful case of gender-based violence against women and children, a 65-year-old Limpopo grandfather has been arrested for the rape of his 14-year-old granddaughter.

The young girl was reportedly raped multiple times by her grandfather over two years. The abuse began in 2018 when she was 12 years old.

However, her ordeal came to an end on Thursday when she went to a neighbour to seek help.

Neighbour informed police of sexual abuse

The neighbour informed local police at Mokgwathi village in the Mopani District and her grandfather was taken into custody and will appear before the Bolobedu Magistrate Court on Monday.

 “The young girl was reportedly raped by her grandfather several times since 2018 when she was only 12 years old,” police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said.

“The rapes allegedly took place when her grandmother was not home and the suspect would thereafter bribe the victim with money.”

Grandfather attempted to involve other men

Even more horrifying is the allegation that the grandfather attempted to entice his friends to become involved in the sexual abuse in exchange for cash.

“As if that was a normal thing to do, the suspect apparently attempted to have his friends have sex with the child in exchange for money, by bringing in two other older men so they could also sexually abuse her,” Mojapelo stated.

He said that once police became aware of the situation, the child was “immediately taken to the Victim Empowerment Centre and the relevant stakeholders have already been engaged”.

Police thank neighbour for quick action

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, thanked the neighbour for quick action in involving the police.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the abuse of children and the seemingly immoral tendencies of older men [in] taking advantage of the most vulnerable members of the society,” he said.

“The swift reaction by police members who received the report is commendable.”