‘Father figure’ who raped kids is released from jail

The rapes occurred between January and March 2020.

A 35-year-old man regarded as a “father figure” to a couple of kids was this week released on R1 500 bail after being charged with raping them.

The man, a security guard by profession, was charged with rape, child grooming and displaying of pornographic materials to kids in the Mbombela Magistrates Court.

Police spokesman Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said “these series of events” are believed to have taken place between January and March this year.

He said the man was respected and was a family friend to the parents of the kids, and “took an advantage of the girls”.

“The young girls also regarded the man as a father figure whom they never thought would harm them and at times, they would sleep over at his place,” said Hlathi.

When his wife was not  around, the man would begin talking about sex to the kids, showing them pornographic materials and began assaulting them sexually, the police spokesperson said.

“The suspect’s alleged evil tendencies continued for a period of about three months until one of the victims disclosed to a family friend,” he said.

The Mbombela police’s child protection unit investigated the issue and on 7 April 2020 the man was arrested.

Since then the man has been languishing in jail until this week when the court released him on a R1 500 bail.

He returns to court on 3 August 2020.

(edited by MLM)

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