A CONFESSION made by a 12-year-old girl to a pastor at her family church exposed her cousin, who allegedly raped her and told her not to tell anyone about the incident.
REPORT BY SILAS NKALA
This was heard by a Bulawayo magistrate Evelyn Mashavakure when a 28-year-old man from Mthombothemba village in Bulawayo appeared before her to answer a charge of rape.
The magistrate remanded him in custody to August 8 to appear at the Bulawayo regional court. The court heard that sometime in March this year, the girl and his brother (name withheld to protect the minor’s identity) were at their home in Mthombothemba.
It is the State case that the girl’s mother and the man’s mother are sisters. The court heard that while the girl was in her bedroom applying body oil, the man entered and started fondling her breasts before pushing her to the ground and raping her once.
After that he told her not to report the matter to anyone. The offence came to light when the girl went to church and confessed to her pastor (name supplied) who then reported the matter to the police, leading to the brother’s arrest. The girl was taken to the United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) where it was confirmed that she was raped.
