THE case against a 27-year-old Ethiopian national accused of raping a minor has been postponed to 14 April to allow for legal representation.
The suspect briefly appeared in the Hendrina Magistrates Court on Monday, 7 April.
He was arrested on Saturday, 5 April, following the alleged rape of a six-year-old girl in Arnot, Mpumalanga, on Thursday, 3 April.
It's alleged that the victim was sent to purchase items at a local spaza shop when the suspect lured her into his backroom and allegedly raped her.
The victim's mum shared her concerns with Daily Sun, explaining that she noticed something was wrong with her child when the child went to the bathroom at night.
"I noticed at night that something was wrong with her because she was having a bad odour. That's when I asked her what had happened, and she explained to me that when they got to the shop, the owner pulled her into a backroom and sexually assaulted her," the mother said.
She said they went to report the matter to the police the following day.
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The 36-year-old mother said since the incident, her daughter has been having nightmares and is scared to be around adults.
"I am asking myself too many questions about how everything happened. I am very hurt, and I don't want to see him released out of custody. He must rot in jail," she said.
Residents of the area have since closed shops belonging to foreign nationals.
Makhosazane Mabuza said all foreign nationals can't be generating money from the same community while they are doing such bad things to our kids.
"We are doing this to support the family. We feel like there is no need for foreign shop owners to continue operating in our area. They must go.
"Their shops will be closed until notice," said Mabuza.
Mpumalanga police spokesman, Brigadier Donald Mdluli, confirmed that a 27-year-old Ethiopian national was arrested and charged with rape.
He said investigations are continuing.
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