| Woman and a male friend arrested for child grooming and statutory rape | |
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| Date Published: | 2026/01/07 |
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Media Statement
NELSPRUIT - A 25-year-old woman and her alleged 33-year-old male friend were arrested on 05 January 2026 on charges of child grooming and statutory rape involving a 15-year-old girl. According to information received at approximately 22:10, the complainant, who is the mother of the victim, reported that a woman at Oyco in Phola allegedly encouraged, instructed, and persuaded her 15-year-old child to engage in sexual activities with several men at Oyco in Phola. Police acted quickly on the report. The initial inquiry revealed that, according to the complainant, victim stated that a woman known to her at Oyco, where she frequently spends time with friends—constantly encouraged, instructed, and persuaded her and other female friends to engage in sexual activities with various men, so that the men would pay her and share a portion with the girls. She further alleged that the victim told her that on Monday, 05 January 2026, at approximately 10:00, the accused woman compelled her to have intercourse with a 33-year-old man known to her and gave her R100-00 in cash. Additionally, the complainant stated that on the same day, at around 12:30, the woman coerced the victim into having sexual intercourse with her purported male friend, who had assured them that payment would be made later. The matter was reported to the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit. The suspects were traced and successfully located at Oyco, in the Four Room Section of Phola. The suspect and her alleged boyfriend were arrested on 05 January 2026 and have been charged. The suspects are expected to appear in the Ogies Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, 08 January 2026, facing charges of child grooming and statutory rape. Police cannot rule out the possibility of additional charges being filed. The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga,Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the arrest of the suspects and expressed his disappointment, noting that the woman who should have been protecting the girls,exploited them for financial gain.
He further urged parents to be vigilant and look after their children, emphasising that people can be cruel.
Enquiries:
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