Cape Town - A Cape Town mother’s world came crashing down when her 14-year-old daughter arrived home with a baby after she was rushed to hospital with stomach cramps.
The mother said she had no idea her child was pregnant, and was shocked to learn she's suddenly a grandmother to a healthy boy.
The girl revealed the baby was conceived after she was raped by a 50-year-old man.
The 37-year-old mom said to add insult to injury, the alleged rapist is spreading rumours that she knew about his sex acts with her daughter and kept quiet about it.
“I would never have allowed it. It breaks my heart that he tore our lives apart and is now spreading these stories on top of it,” she sobbed.
She says the man was arrested shortly after the baby’s birth on July 31, but he has since been released on bail.
“He was released on bail and is going on with his life while my daughter’s life has been ruined and we are going through a very difficult time,” says the mother, who cannot be named to protect her teen daughter.
The Grabouw family’s ordeal started when the 14-year-old was rushed to hospital with stomach pains.
“I got the shock of my life when I saw her with a baby. She wouldn’t say who the father was and everybody just cried,” said the mother.
The girl’s 32-year-old uncle said he confronted his niece, who finally revealed the suspect’s identity.
“I fetched that man and he admitted that the child was his. I was so angry I felt I could kill him,” said the uncle.
The mother said the suspect acted as if he hadn’t done anything wrong and even offered to pay maintenance.
The new grandmother has decided to raise the baby as her own while her daughter returns to school.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that a 50-year-old suspect was arrested on charges of statutory rape.
“The suspect was arrested on 5 August and his first appearance was on 8 August. He was released on bail and his next court date is on 13 October,” added Van Wyk.
Daily Voice