Minor friends rescue one of their own, suspect arrested for sexual assault

The police arrested a 43-year-old suspect from Thembalihle, near Vrede for alleged sexual assault of an 11-year-old after her friends rescued her on Friday, 1 April.

Allegedly, on the day of the incident, the young girl was playing with her friends when a known man arrived. The man came to buy cigarettes and the young girl served him.

According to Thabo Mofutsanyane District police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring, the suspect went on to sit on the couch and started fondling the minor. She then screamed for help and her friends came to her rescue and pulled her outside.

“Out of fright, the suspect asked the young girl not to report him, but the group ran away,” added Mophiring.

The incident was reported at around 18:45 at the Vrede police station. The police tracked and arrested the suspect on Monday, 04 April for sexual assault.

He will soon appear before Vrede Magistrate Court facing sexual assault charges.

“The continuous awareness and education on GBV to community on soft approach policing through Social Crime Prevention bare fruits. Our children should break the silence on abuse to bring perpetrators to book,” says FS Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane.