Eastern Cape police have arrested a 45-year-old man for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old boy in Libode.
It is understood that the boy was returning from a soccer match when he met the man who took him to his house and raped him overnight.
Thembinkosi Kinana, the police spokesperson said: “According to the report, the victim was on his way home when he met the suspect who forcefully took him to his house where he raped him. The victim managed to escape the following day and reported the matter.”
According to the boy’s family, a teacher at the boy’s school noticed that he could not walk properly; he then sent the boy home and informed his family. Upon investigation, the family noticed swelling on the boy’s genitals. Only then, the boy decided to tell them about the rape incident.
The boy’s aunt said he was taken to the doctor who confirmed what had happened.
“At first, the boy did not want to tell us what happened, saying he was scared of telling us, but eventually he reported to us that he was raped. He said he was locked all night after he was kidnapped on his way from a soccer match in the afternoon. He was sodomised and then the suspect masturbated on him,” says the aunt.
The rape incident left villagers in shock, saying they would like the government to ensure that the suspect does not get bail. They called for justice for the little boy.
“We have been complaining about the rape of women, but now they rape men as well. This is new to us. We don’t know what to do with the child, we are scared the suspect might be released and come after the boy. There’s something called getting rid of evidence, we fear this might happen to this child,” a concerned community member said.
Source: News24, Eyewitness News, SABC News, image from SABC News: Twitter/@SAPoliceService