RESIDENTS are up in arms against older men who are targeting girls in their early teens.
They said these young girls are lured with money by these blessers, most of whom own small businesses in the Makause squatter camp.
Angry residents said they sleep with and impregnate girls as young as 12, leaving the parents to pick up pieces.
Residents said what was disheartening was that this crime was taken seriously.
"We believe sleeping with young girl is a statutory rape, unless things have changed," said a mother.
Residents of Makause and surrounding squatter camps in Germiston, Ekurhuleni said this had become so rampant they had taken upon themselves to fight this scourge.
"Police are failing us," said another mother.
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A mother alleged that she had to force the police to open a case against a 23-year-old man who slept with her 12-year-old daughter at his place.
On that night, the mother said she searched in vain for her daughter, who only returned the following day at about 11am.
"We had to promise some lashes if she didn't reveal who the boyfriend was," she said.
She said the girl took community leaders to the salon owner who allegedly confessed to having slept with her 12-year-old daughter.
"Police told me the case won't go anywhere as my daughter was not willing to testify against the man," claimed the mum.
The mum said although the case was opened, she has no hope for justice.
Another mother said her daughter was impregnated by a blesser, and she's now left to look after the baby.
"My daughter is now a mother at 12, and her future is ruined already," she said.
Captain Nelda Sekgobela of Ekurhuleni District police confirmed a 13-year-old recently gave birth to a baby at Germiston Hospital.
"Last week we opened two statutory rape cases for a 12-year-old and 13-year-old girl. They are being investigated by Family Violence, Child Protection and the Sexual Offences Unit (FCS)," she said.
