Esigodini man rapes niece

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
A 34-YEAR-OLD man from Esigodini has been arrested for allegedly raping his eight-year-old maternal niece.

The man, who cannot be named to the protect the identity of the victim was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Miss Lerato Nyathi facing a rape charge last week.

He was remanded in custody to 7 July. Prosecuting, Miss Faith Mutukwa said the man allegedly raped his niece in January and the offence came to light in February.

“During the month of January, the complainant arrived home from school in the afternoon where she was staying with her uncle and found the accused person at home alone. The accused person called the complainant into his bedroom and she complied. He ordered her to lie on the bed and raped her once and threatened to assault her if she revealed the matter. The complainant remained quiet about the matter.

During the month of February the complainant’s father collected her from her uncle’s homestead and took her home,” she said.

Miss Mutukwa said the complainant’s grandmother noticed that her granddaughter had some bruises on her private parts.

She informed the complainant’s father and they questioned the girl who revealed that her uncle had raped her. The matter was reported to the police resulting in the arrest of the accused person. – @DubeMatutu