Man (61) rapes granddaughter (15)

A 61-YEAR-OLD Esigodini man appeared in court facing three counts of raping his 15-year-old granddaughter.

The accused, of Matolokisi Village, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate Mr Arafat Kozanai on Tuesday.

He was remanded in custody to 11 September and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

Allegations against the accused are that on 25 June at about 1pm, he went to the complainant’s homestead and found her with her brother. It is alleged he sent the complainant’s brother to his homestead and remained with the girl.

He allegedly asked to have sexual intercourse with her but she refused. The accused allegedly raped the complainant and thereafter assaulted her with a sjambok warning her not to report the rape to anyone.

After the assault, the accused allegedly raped the complainant for the second time. The State also alleges that on 30 June, the accused again went to the complainant’s homestead and told her to accompany him to his homestead to collect a cellphone.

While they were at his homestead, he allegedly ordered the girl to get into his bedroom and collect the cellphone. He allegedly then followed her.

Once inside the house, the accused allegedly grabbed the complainant and pushed her to the floor and raped her. He allegedly assaulted her with a sjambok again and told her never to reveal the matter to anyone.

The matter came to light when the girl narrated her ordeal to her neighbour. After hearing that the complainant had disclosed the alleged rape to her neighbour, the accused is said to have written a letter to the complainant apologising for his actions.

The matter was reported to the police leading to the accused’s arrest. Mr Edward Ndlovu represented the State.