TIYANI – A well-known businessman, aged (39), briefly appeared in the Hlanganani Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a charge of rape. The incident to which the case is linked took place at the Tiyani settlement in the Hlanganani area last Thursday.

According to the spokesperson of the police in the Mopani area, Const Sylvia Hlungwane, it is alleged that, on the day of the incident, the victim and her two friends went to the local shop to buy some goods. While at the shop, it is alleged that the suspect told the girls that he was about to go out to deliver some ordered goods in the village.

The suspect allegedly requested the girls to go with him, saying he needed someone who could assist him in the off-loading of goods.

It is stated that the girls agreed and they drove off.

After delivering at a few houses, the suspect allegedly changed the route and drove in the direction of the bushes. On arrival in the bushes, he parked the vehicle along the road and requested the victim (a ten-year-old girl) to go with, him leaving the other two girls, aged 11 and 13, at the vehicle. After a long wait, the suspect and the victim came back.

At that stage, the little girl was holding a R20 note in her hand. the suspect allegedly gave the victim’s friends R10 each. When the victim’s friends started questioning her as to why she was given R20 while they were only given R10 each, the suspect allegedly promised to give them their additional R10 each the following day.

The following day, the two girls went to the suspect, and demanded the money as promised. He refused, however, to give them more money and allegedly indicated to them that he gave the victim R20 because she had worked for it and they had done nothing.

The argument gave rise to the police’s being informed about the story and the suspect was arrested over the weekend. He was not asked to plead when he appeared in court on Monday. His bail application was refused, pending further police investigations. He will appear in the same court again today (Friday).