Tshepo Nxumalo, 20, was charged with two counts of rape and common assault on Wednesday and appeared in the Standerton Magistrate Court.
Nxumalo is suspected of having enticed his 17-year-old victim over Facebook before sexually assaulting her in the mountains near Standerton on March 25.
On March 28th, he was taken into custody.
According to Colonel Selvy Mohlala, a spokesman for the provincial police, the victim and Nxumalo met on Facebook.
“The two are said to have had some conversation which led to their meeting next to a mountain in Standerton on the said Saturday. The victim reportedly went along with her one-year-old child.
“Upon arrival, the suspect allegedly convinced the teenage girl that he needed to fetch her brother on the mountain top.
“They all went together, and on their arrival, it is alleged that he raped her in front of her child whilst recording a video using his cell phone,” Mohlala said.
Nxumalo allegedly continued his actions after that. He then threatened to share the video he had taken of the incident with the public.
“The girl was allegedly raped by the man for the second time before he threatened to circulate the recordings he made via social media platforms should the lady decide to report the incident. Thereafter, the suspect fled the scene, and the matter was eventually reported to the police in Standerton, and the case was opened,” Mohlala said.
They wasted no time in getting to work on trying to capture Nxumalo. He was eventually apprehended after being located in the Standerton neighbourhood.
Nxumalo’s case has been put on hold until April 13, 2023, so he can submit a bail application. The judge has issued an order keeping him in jail until the case is resolved.
The Mpumalanga police administration issued a statement urging the public to exercise caution when using social media in order to avert a potentially dangerous situation.
They also suggested that parents keep an eye on their kids’ social media activity to prevent such tragedies.
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