A 22-year-old man was arrested in Jericho near Brits on Friday for the alleged rape of a nine-year-old boy.

According to police spokesperson, Maria Nkabinde, the boy told his aunt on 11 June that he had been raped by his mother’s friend in May this year when the man visited his mother at their home.

“A preliminary investigation was conducted and the child was taken for medical tests, which confirmed the rape”, she said.

The accused rapist appeared in the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Monday on a charge of rape.

The District Commissioner of Bojanala District, Major General Modisagaarekwe Mosimanegape, condemned the hideous incident in the strongest possible terms. He emphasised that the police are mandated by the Constitution of South Africa to create a safe and secure environment for women and children.