Rugby player arrested

Port elizabeth – The Nelson Mandela Bay sporting community is in shock over the arrest of a prominent rugby player for allegedly raping a six-year-old girl.

The African Bombers player appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate‘s Court on Thursday for allegedly assaulting and raping the girl in Kwazakhele a week ago. He was not asked to plead and was remanded for a bail application this week.

The incident allegedly happened on Saturday a week ago while the man and his rugby friends were attending a traditional ceremony at the girl‘s house at Njoli Square .

“Everyone is shocked by the incident. I still cannot believe it myself,” said African Bombers player Anele Mali. “We attended the traditional ceremony together on that day, and he left us in the flats drinking that night.”

Community radio DJ Zolile Mkhanzi said the accused had always been friendly to children.

“I couldn‘t believe it when I was told about the incident. We were together at the girl‘s house. He liked joking around and one would never suspect him of doing such a thing.”

The man handed himself in at the Kwazakhele police station on Wednesday after police had been searching for him for days.

The incident at Njoli Square left the little girl unconscious and she was rushed to the Dora Nginza Hospital.
She was treated for three days at the hospital and she was discharged on Tuesday last week after her sexual organs had been torn in the rape.

“Her mother discovered her lying unconscious in a pool of blood in the outside toilet,” said the child‘s aunt, who was still in shock.
The girl was immediately rushed to hospital, where tests were carried out by a gynaecologist.

“She regained consciousness at hospital and when her father asked her who had done this to her, she gave the rugby player‘s name,” the aunt said at the weekend.

The man is said to have been a friend of the little girl‘s uncle and often visited their home.

“Even the uncle is shocked by what has happened. He blames himself for what has happened. The whole family is traumatised and is receiving counselling”, the aunt said. – The Herald