Tonga - An Mpumalanga man accused of raping his 15-year-old niece since 2012 was granted R500 bail by the Tonga Magistrate's Court on Monday.
The accused, who cannot be named to protect the girl's identity, is from Langeloop village near Malalane, a Sapa correspondent reported.
The 37-year-old was arrested on Sunday after a relative reported that he had been raping his niece since she was 13.
“The young girl told her sister that the uncle has been raping her since 2012,” said Tonga police spokesman Lt Mzwandile Nyambi.
“This came after the victim got ill and the doctors said she had a sexually transmitted illness.”
A case of rape was opened against the uncle on Monday morning.
“He was arrested and charged before appearing in this court. We, as Tonga police, are warning parents or relatives not to be silent if rape occurs in the family,” Nyambi said.
Magistrate Sam Nkuna granted the accused R500 bail and postponed the case to October 20 for further investigation.
Sapa