A woman (46) has been arrested for allegedly repeatedly raping a 15-year-old boy.
The incident happened at the minor’s parental homestead in the presence of his oblivious family.
According to the minor’s grandmother, the ordeal happened last Wednesday night when she sent her 15-year-old grandson into the house to load some electricity units. She said the house was dark as the power units had been depleted. She said all seemed well because her grandson loaded the units as instructed.
She said this was until the police came knocking on her door a few days later. She said when she asked what had brought them to her home at night, she was told that the minor, who is a Form 1 pupil, had been raped.
Taken aback, the elderly woman said she could not open the door because it was at night and she did not trust that the people outside the house were indeed the police.
She said the law enforcers returned the next morning, Saturday, and relayed the ordeal to her.
The boy’s grandmother said it was then that she learned that the 46-year-old woman who is a neighbour had followed her grandson into the house and violated him on the night she had sent him to load the electricity units.
“He said she first inappropriately touched him before violating him while inside the house. The suspect further followed the child to the back of the house where she further unlawfully slept with him,” alleged the grandmother.
The elderly woman said the neighbour usually visited her home because she (gogo) sells liquor. The neighbour is further said to have been acquainted with some women of her age living at the minor’s homestead.
After the incident, the teenager is said to have not reported the matter to her family, but confided in his friends.
The matter reportedly spread among other community members until some roped in the police.
The child’s grandmother expressed shock at what befell her grandson and said she had never heard that a woman had raped a male as men were usually perpetrators.
“Ngiyacala kukuva loku njemine,” she stated.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Senior Superintendent Phindile Zwane confirmed the incident. She said the suspect was arrested and is expected to appear in court today.
This is not the first rape case where a woman is a perpetrator to be reported to the police.
In May, the Royal Eswatini Police Service issued a wanted notice for a 36-year-old woman, Sanele Dlamini, who is wanted in connection with a rape case.
Dlamini of Jabulani in Nhlangano, is wanted in relation to the alleged rape of a nine-year-old boy in April.
The police appealed to members of the public with information that could assist in locating her to contact the Shiselweni Regional Crime Branch officer (RCBO) Mr Mthembo on 7603 3571, Hluti Desk Officer Sergeant Nhlabatsi on 7626 6963, or relevant investigating officer Detective Constable Magagula on 7690 5940.
The police also provided alternative contact numbers, including 999/991/112 and through REPS emergency WhatsApp number 7999 1000.
