Randburg, South Africa – A 34-year-old Ethiopian spaza shop owner has been charged with repeatedly r@ping a 7-year-old girl inside his shop.
Shocking allegations detail a series of abuses committed in front of his 10-year-old brother, who allegedly either watched or was encouraged to participate.
The accused reportedly lured the young girl into his shop with promises of treats, including a big pack of chips, biscuits, and R5, to keep her silent about the assaults. The repeated abus3 has left the community in shock and calling for justice.
Court Proceedings
The accused appeared in the Randburg Magistrate Court on Thursday and the case has been postponed to 25 July 2024 to allow the state to secure an interpreter fluent in Amharic, the language the accused prefers to use for his legal proceedings.
It has been noted that the accused allegedly spoke South African languages fluently when interacting with his victims.
Local community has expressed outrage and devastation over the news. Parents and residents are demanding swift justice and more stringent measures to protect children from such predators.
Breaking News: A 34 year old Ethiopian spaza shop owner raped a 7 year old girl repeatedly in his spazashop in front of his little brother 10 years, while he allegedly watched sometimes or got enticed by pedophile. He would give them a big pack of chips, biscuits, and R5 to… pic.twitter.com/8CwQHoEOlT
— Kwena Molekwa (@Miz_Ruraltarain) July 20, 2024