Durban - A truck driver who has allegedly confessed to kidnapping and raping a six-year-old girl is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, KwaZulu-Natal police said.
On March 10, the child was walking home from school in Clairwood, Durban South, when she was abducted, Colonel Jay Naicker said.
“After a frantic search for the child she was found the following morning at 3.10am in the bush along Edwin Swales Drive.”
The child told police that a truck driver kidnapped her, dragged her into a bushy area, and raped her, then hit her on the head with a brick.
Police questioned trucking companies in the area trying to identify the perpetrator.
A breakthrough came on Saturday when one of the employers told police that items belonging to the child were found in one of the company's trucks.
“Police questioned the suspect at his place of employment in Phoenix where he allegedly confessed to the crime.
“The suspect, 38, was then arrested for three counts of rape, attempted murder, and kidnapping,” Naicker said.
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-Geneneral Mmamonnye Ngobeni welcomed the arrest.
“We once again call on parents to be aware that there are such fiends among us that will commit the most heinous acts of violence on our children should they be presented with the opportunity,” she said.
“We are responsible for the safety of our children and need to ensure that they are not exposed to these criminals.” - Sapa