A 53-year old man from Ikageng in North West has been arrested for allegedly raping four children; two of whom are aged 9, and the others 12 and 13 respectively. 

Dikeledi Machethulo of Ntshegetse Foundation says the increasing rape incidents in the area is a major concern because the victims are affected long after the crime has taken place.  

“It is a very emotional issue,” Machethulo says. “Rape leaves victims with fear, hate, and low self-esteem. Some victims are left pregnant, with sexual infections and severe depression.  Rape is not an act of crime, but also a major health challenge. The growing incidents are very concerning.” 

The incident

According to Ikageng South African Police Services (SAPS) spokesperson, Sergeant Kelebogile Trom, a case of rape has been opened at Potchefstroom’s Ikageng police station, and a suspect arrested on Tuesday.

“We have a case of four cousins who were allegedly raped by their friend’s father. He was allegedly mixing alcohol and allergy medicine to drug them and then rape them. The 53-year old suspect was arrested when he came to certify documents,” Trom explains. 

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According to the complaint, she alleges that she slept at her friend’s place, and her friend’s father suggested that they have a drinking competition involving alcohol. She was there with her three cousins. Her friend’s father starting mixing ciders, ginger beer, an antihistamine syrup, and juice in a bottle and told them whoever wins the drinking competition would be awarded R10.

The complaint adds she felt dizzy after drinking the mixture so she went to sleep at her friend’s bedroom but later woke up in the father’s bedroom, who ordered her to remove her panty and allegedly raped her.  

He continued to sexually assault her the following morning and told her not to tell her parents or else she would die, the complaint says. 

According to Crime Stats SA, 134 cases of rape were opened in Ikageng in 2018. 

Stricter sentences 

Dikeledi adds that the government should be stricter to sexual offenders because the current system is not enough.

“Our government should help us to fight this issue, perpetrators should rot in jail to avoid a situation of repeat offenders. Their rights should be limited and they mustn’t get bail. As soon as they are found guilty, they should be locked for life. So as long as perpetrators are treated nice in jail, they will just keep on repeating these crimes,” Machethulo says. – Health-e News