Cape Town - Child rights group Molo Songololo says the number of cases of young teens raping even younger children is increasing.
The organisation was reacting after a 16-year-old was arrested for allegedly raping two girls, one aged nine and the other a five-year-old.
According to police spokesman Noloyiso Rwexana, the boy allegedly lured the girls into his Makhaza home in Khayelitsha and raped them.
It is alleged that the nine-year-old was repeatedly raped. The teen was arrested at the weekend.
He made a brief appearance in court on Monday.
Rwexana said the boy allegedly raped the girl several times this month.
“Police management strongly condemn acts of this nature, where young girls are being victimised.
“We urge the members of the communities to stand together and come forward to help put an end to this criminal behaviour by reporting them to the police.”
Molo Songololo director Patric Solomons said while they were shocked by the incident, more interventions were needed to curb sexual offences involving children.
“We have a huge problem of violent sexual offences in all our communities.
“What we have found is that the age group that commits these crimes is becoming younger,” he said.
“We do come across similar incidents. They are happening more than we know. Often parents don’t talk about them.
“They do not send out a clear message that these cases are wrong and are not tolerated,” said Solomons.
Meanwhile, a 53-year-old man arrested in connection with three rape cases he allegedly committed against young girls between 12 and 15 years is set to apply for bail when he appears in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court on August 17.
Rwexana said the suspect would allegedly send the girls to the shop and as soon as they returned, he would lock them inside the house and rape them.
Rwexana said the man has appeared twice in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court and was remanded for a formal bail application.
Cape Times