An enraged mob on Thursday attacked an uMlazi man accused of raping an eight-year-old girl.
The man, who the girl had apparently identified as her attacker, was struck with stones, sjamboks and knobkieries. He had to be rescued by police
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Residents of uMlazi A-Section said the man had allegedly twice raped the Grade 2 pupil.
The girl’s aunt said the family had become alarmed at a change in her behaviour.
“She just sat inside the house and refused to play with her friends,” she said, speaking from Prince Mshiyeni Hospital where the girl was being examined by doctors on Thursday.
The woman said her niece finally broke her silence on Wednesday evening.
“She wet herself while sleeping and when I asked her what was wrong… she just broke down and cried,” the aunt said. “She told us that she had been raped by the man and it wasn’t the first time.”
After neighbours were alerted, the man allegedly tried to flee. He was captured by residents, who attacked him.
Bloodstained trousers, a pair of running shoes and a trail of blood were seen by a Daily News team at the scene on Thursday afternoon. A police officer at the scene said that the girl was traumatised.
“The man is receiving treatment at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital,” said the policeman, who cannot be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge, confirmed the incident and said the man was in a critical condition.
“He has been charged with rape,” he said. - Daily News