Sexagenarian Rapes His Granddaughter
Pini Bothoko | Monday January 29, 2018 10:02
Machaneng Police station commander, Superintendent Peggy Vakalisa confirmed the incident when she told The Monitor that the rape occurred last Tuesday. She said the 62-year-old grandfather was home alone with his granddaughter.
“The granddaughter reported the disgusting incident to her aunt who later reported the matter to the police. The sexagenarian was arrested, detained and charged with an offence of rape. He recently appeared before Mahalapye Magistrate Court facing a single count of rape and is currently in custody,” Vakalisa said.
Vakalisa raised a concern over rising cases of incest in her policing area stating that it is beginning of the year but already they have registered two cases of incest.
“Rape cases in which people are sexually abused by people close to them are of concern in my policing area because they are reported frequently. Last year a number of these cases were reported despite our frequent interventions, public outreach to sensitise people on cases of this nature. The message seems to be falling on deaf ears,” Vakalisa said.
She said the rate at which parents, particularly stepfathers are caught in unholy acts with their daughters or stepdaughters are of concern. She said they do not know what could be influencing them but they are pleading with members of the public, especially mothers to take care of their girl-child, as they are the most targeted victims as compared to their male counterparts.
She said that a few weeks back, a 14-year-old girl of Sefhare village was also sexual abused by his stepfather.
She stated that they usually follow women, particularly mothers at clinics and Kgotla meetings to raise rape awareness and encourage them to take care of their children, especially the girl-child.
“A girl-child is like a glass or a diamond. She should be taken care of at all times. I am pleading with mothers to be cautious and not to leave their girl-child with strangers or male persons. Mothers should not take for granted trusting the people they leave their girl-child behind with. Men can be unpredictable when they are left alone with women despite their age,” Vakalisa cautioned.
She said that it is not like their male counterparts are left behind, they also hold campaigns at football tournaments where they are usually found in large numbers to educate and caution them about rape.
“At times we look for them at shebeens to sensitise them on issues including rape. Last year, we held a successful outreach at Mosolotshane village where cases of this nature were on the rise and now we have seen a positive impact. What worries us the most is that a majority of the perpetrators would be in their sober mind and not having acted under the influence of alcohol,” Vakalisa said.
Vakalisa pleaded with women to continue reporting rape, not to choose to suffer its effects alone and in silence as well as to teach their children to disclose to them any unpleasant acts they could experience from their male relatives.