Another girl, 10, rescued from suspected rapist, 42

JOINT efforts by George police, community safety structures and local security companies led to the rescue of a missing girl and arrest of a 42-year-old man on charges of kidnapping and rape.

Police spokesperson Christopher Spies said two girls from Conville were walking along York Street near the George Cemetery on Saturday, when a man approached them. 

“He convinced the two minors to accompany him to a nearby shop. 

“They were taken to an open field near the R102, also known as Airport Road, where the ten-year-old girl was allegedly raped. The other girl managed to escape and alerted her family of the incident,” Spies said.

A search for the girl commenced with the involvement of several community safety structures and local security companies who worked around the clock to locate her.

Sunday morning, the search took the team to Syferfontein near Pacaltsdorp where the man was tracked down. 

“Further investigation took police to a residence between the N2 and Airport Road where the girl was found. The victim was taken to a medical facility for care and the suspect was arrested on the mentioned charges,” Spies said, adding the George Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit (FCS) is investigating this case.

“The suspect remains in police custody and will appear in court once charged. More charges could be added as the investigating unfolds.”

Meanwhile, the man alleged to have kidnapped and raped a nine-year-old Hanover Park girl has had his parole revoked.

Convicted rapist Igshaan Williams, 51, was formally charged with rape, kidnapping, human trafficking, and sexual assault and appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Williams was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in 2005 for raping a 10-year-old and was granted parole late last year.

Previously, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) said Williams was identified as Isaac Booi on their system, however, he appeared in court under a different Muslim name. 

DCS spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, explained that community corrections officials have since verified his identity and confirmed that he is indeed a parolee currently under the supervision of the Cape Town Community Corrections office.

NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, confirmed the matter has been postponed for two months.

“The accused’s parole has been revoked. This means that there is no bail application. The accused will appear via Audio Visual Remand (AVR) from now on,” Ntabazalila said. 

Residents from Hanover Park came out in their numbers demanding justice for the girl and her family.

According to the Public Relations Officer for the Faith and Hope Missing Persons, Dennis George, they got a call at about 5pm that the girl had gone missing. She was last seen on Tuesday, May 13, between 3pm and 4pm.

“The suspect had sent the girl to the shop with R20 to buy him milk. On her way to the shop, she got a friend and told her she would be back. She said she would just be taking the milk back,” George said.

When she did not return, residents went searching for the child, and she was found in the home of the parolee. The matter was postponed until July 25.

Cape Times