A six-year-old girl from Tafelsig was allegedly raped by a 13-year-old boy on the same day that Randy Tango was sentenced to three life terms for raping and killing his neighbour, 11-year-old Stacha Arendse, from the same area.
With emotions running high, residents rioted through the streets on Monday, burning tyres, blocking roads and hurling bricks at police, demanding the alleged teen rapist be handed over to the community.
Traffic at the intersection of Spine Road and AZ Berman Drive came to a grinding halt as residents refused to allow cars to pass and a fierce stand-off ensued between residents and cops after the alleged rapist was removed by police.
The victim’s ouma, 57, says the little girl was at an after-school programme at Tafelsig High School for the day.
IN THE FIRING LINE: Police were attacked with stones in streets. Photo: Leon Knipe
“She came running in here and she was hysterical. I was talking to her but she could not answer me and then I ran out to see what was happening. It was just after 3pm, en toe ek uit gaan sien ek ‘* klomp mense,” she says.
“I asked one of the ladies what is happening and she told me she is looking for a little girl with red tights and a white top.”
The ouma says she got a skrik when she realised the woman was talking about her granddaughter and questioned the woman further.
“She told me there was a boy who caught him [the 13-year old neighbour] busy with my granddaughter. The police came and her mommy took her to the hospital. We don’t know what her injuries are. We know him, he lives just around the corner.”
A 32-year-old Tafelsig mom, who asked not to be named, told the Daily Voice they were gatvol of rape attacks and wanted to show police they were serious.
“Hulle moet hom vir ons gee, dan sort ons dit self uit. Ons soek nie rapists en * ***ers hier nie.”
Captain FC van Wyk says no arrests have been made.
“Due to the sensitive nature of the alleged incident we cannot comment any further, however, we can confirm at this stage that the preliminary investigation is still ongoing.”
On Tuesday the ouma confirmed the girl and her parents were still at Mitchells Plain Hospital and said the family is still in shock.
This incident follows a riot in Dassenberg Street, also in Tafelsig, two weeks ago where police had to rescue an alleged child rapist, 52, from an angry mob.
The man allegedly raped a seven-year-old girl in a bush near her home and sought refuge in the offices of the Mustadafin Foundation in the area.