Man in Centane, Eastern Cape, raped a 12-year-old child and then burnt her to death inside her home along with her sibling and grandmother.
According to Scrolla, the man allegedly raped a child in a village in the Eastern Cape. Later, he returned and set fire to the child’s family home, killing three people.
The attack happened in Mcelwane village in Centane on Monday. The suspect, who is known to villagers, allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl and ran away.
The girl’s mother and one child left to look for transport to get to the hospital, as the remote Gqunqe Administrative Area has few cars.
While they were gone, the suspect allegedly returned and set fire to their home. The young rape victim, her grandmother and another child were trapped inside and died in the flames.
Police have not said if the victims were attacked again before the fire.
Human rights worker Petros Majola from the Khula Development Project has begged anyone with information to come forward.
“I am asking the community to work with the police in tracing the suspect. Parents, I beg you, please even if he is your son, bring him forward,” Majola said.
Majola plans to visit the grieving family with community members.
* In a later update police confirmed that the suspect was arrested on Tuesday, but was rushed to the hospital after being found with assault injuries in a neighbouring village where he had fled after committing the crimes.
He later died in the hospital, though it remains unknown at this stage who assaulted him.
