Outrage Grows in Impendle: Community Unites Against Rising Rape Cases After A Man Rapes An 8-year-old

Outraged members of the Impendle community in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal Midlands are speaking up against the alarming increase in rape cases in their area.

Their concern arises following a disturbing incident where a 31-year-old man was charged with raping his fiancée's 8-year-old daughter, a grade 3 student. The accused was denied bail on September 12, 2023, at the Impendle magistrate's court.

Community activist and ANC ward 5 branch chairperson, Thami Mkhulise, revealed that one of the reasons bail was denied was due to alleged threats made by the accused towards the victim and his fiancée.

Mkhulise expressed deep disappointment, saying, "This is the kind of individuals we have in our community." 

He pointed out that there were reports of multiple primary school pupils who had allegedly suffered similar abuse.

Calling for justice, Mkhulise emphasized the gravity of the crime, especially when it involves a young child. He stressed the need for greater awareness about rape, noting that some families try to shield the perpetrators, often negotiating among themselves due to societal stigma.

Officials from the provincial department of social development were present at the court hearing and confirmed that social workers had been assigned to assist the affected families.

In another news, a young couple from Georgia has initiated a second legal action against a doctor they claim shared distressing images of their baby, who tragically suffered a decapitation during childbirth. See detailed story here.

[SOURCE]