A Manenberg man is set to appear in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Friday after he was busted for allegedly raping his 15-year-old stepdaughter for the past three years.
The teen victim broke her silence on Tuesday night after she and her friend ran away from home.
Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson, Vanessa Adriaanse, says tears flowed at Manenberg SAPS when the duo told crimefighters why they left home.
“It all started when the mother of a 16-year-old girl came to the station to report her missing,” says Vanessa.
“The information we received was that she was seen with this other 15-year-old girl.
“The CPF and the neighbourhood watches were contacted by Sergeant Natasha Landers who indicated there was information that the missing girl was seen standing on Duinefontein Road and we went to go get her and took her to the station.”
Vanessa says while questioning the 16-year-old, the rape victim arrived at the station.
“She came looking for her friend to see if she is OK and that is when we started to talk to them as mothers to ask them why they had run away.
“The one girl started getting emotional and just said we don’t understand what it’s like to look at him every day and that is when she opened up.
“She informed us that her stepfather had been raping her since she was 12 years old and said it had become so normal that every time her mother left, she knew he would rape her.”
Vanessa says the victim’s mother and stepfather were called to the station and the man came willingly while her mother accused the teen of lying.
“She said she believed her husband and told us that they were together 24/7 and the only time they were not together was when he went to work.
“She didn’t believe her daughter and he handed himself over to the police.
“When questioned, the girl told us she didn’t want to say anything before as he was the breadwinner and she feared they would have nothing if he was arrested,” Vanessa says.
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, says: “This office can confirm that a case of rape has been opened for the 15-year-old minor.
“A 35-year-old suspect was arrested and will make his first court appearance in Wynberg court on Friday.”