MAN ACCUSED OF RAPE OF CHILD (10) SHOT BY COPS

MANZINI - A man accused of raping a 10-year-old neighbour’s child, was shot allegedly by police officers who reportedly broke into his home.

This incident happened at 1am on Friday, at Croydon. The name of the accused man will not be revealed because he has not been formally charged by the police. According to *Thokozani, he had recently settled at a homestead after he moved from his aunt’s place for personal reasons.  He disclosed that he was attacked by the police officers who told him that he was accused of raping a minor, something that baffled him as he was unaware of it.

Banged

He narrated that the officers of the law banged his windows and door, demanding him to open. He disclosed that he first asked who the people banging his door were, and the reason for their visit. However, he said the officers continued and he eventually opened. Before long, Thokozani said the police officers entered the house and started assaulting him. He said one of the law enforcers shot him in his right knee and he fell. In the process of the assault, the accused said the police officers told him that he had raped the minor girl from his neighbourhood at Croydon.  

Meanwhile, he said the story about him raping a minor girl was news to him, since he had moved from the homestead where the young girl resided. Instead, he said there was a minor boy who was his cousin, who stayed at the very same homestead who was fond of him. “The boy would now and again follow me around. In one instance, I was taking a bath when the boy entered and requested to take a bath with me,” Thokozani said.  To this, he narrated that he informed the boy that he would prepare water for him after he had finished taking the bath.

However, he said the boy insisted. The accused claimed that even in the evening, the boy was persistent in wanting to sleep with him. He alleged that he slept with the boy and then sent him to his parents after he fell asleep. Thokozani noted that the boy wanted to follow him around even when he went to work. Due to this, he claimed that he decided to leave the homestead and settled at the one he was currently staying at.

Meanwhile, he said the minor girl who they claimed he raped lived with her grandmother. He said he was baffled by the news of him raping the minor girl. Thokozani said there were some instances where he would be with the 10-year-old minor, but there was nothing sinister that he did to her.  He said there was an instance where the minor girl’s mother assaulted her and it was not clear why she did. Meanwhile, after the shooting, Thokozani claimed that the police took him to Dvokolwako Health Centre where he was stitched.

Refused

However, the healthcare workers referred him to Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital but the police refused and sent him to spend the night at Mliba Police Station, according to Thokozani.  He was later taken to RFM Hospital where the bullet was extracted. Efforts to get the family of the girl proved futile. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati was called to confirm the shooting incident and to explain the rationale behind it. Vilakati said she was engaged in a commitment and would revert to this reporter today. *Not real names

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