The man accused of raping a six-year-old girl in Arnot, near Hendrina in Mpumalanga, made his first appearance in the Hendrina Magistrate’s Court today.
Rape suspect makes first court appearance
The suspect, a 27-year-old Ethiopian national, was arrested by police on Saturday, 5 April 2025, two days after the alleged assault took place.
The case was postponed to 14 April 2025 to allow time for a formal bail application and for the court to arrange an interpreter. The suspect remains in custody until then.
According to SAPS, the child was reportedly sent to a nearby tuckshop around 18:00 on Thursday, 3 April 2025, when the incident occurred.
Police say the girl was allegedly attacked during this short errand, and the matter was reported shortly afterwards.
Officers from the specialised Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit were tasked with investigating the case and arrested the suspect two days later.
Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi has strongly condemned the alleged crime and praised the swift action taken by the FCS team.
“We will spare no effort in ensuring that justice is served for the victim in this case,” said Mkhwanazi.
“Our investigators, working closely with the prosecution, will see to it that the suspect faces the full consequences of his alleged actions.”
This case has sparked fresh outrage in the country, especially in light of the ongoing high-profile case involving a seven-year-old girl from Matatiele, known publicly as “Cwecwe.”
That case, which involves allegations of rape at a private school in the Eastern Cape, continues to dominate national headlines.
In the ongoing Cwecwe investigation, police have identified three individuals as persons of interest, but have not confirmed publicly whether DNA samples have been taken from all of them. The Ministry of Police clarified on Sunday, 6 April 2025 that Minister Senzo Mchunu did not state the principal’s DNA had been collected.
Instead, he said samples were taken for DNA analysis, without specifying from whom.
This comes after months of public pressure and concern from civil society groups, and the case has now been escalated to a senior state prosecutor for further review.
Although the two cases are unrelated, they have both intensified public concern over the safety of children in South Africa and renewed calls for stronger protective measures.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact the Childline South Africa helpline at 0800 055 555 or the GBV Command Centre at 0800 428 428. Swisher Post stands firmly against all forms of abuse and urges anyone affected to seek professional help.
