Suspected drug addict allegedly held his three young cousins hostage and raped one of them

Police allege the man raped a 10-year-old-girl in front of two teenagers.

He also allegedly held another relative — a 35-year-old man —  hostage.

The man believed to be his 30s arrived at his cousins’ home on Monday as his aunt was on her way to work at about 5am.

Some time after his aunt had left the house, the man allegedly tied up the three children and kept them locked in the house for about 14 hours.

When the woman arrived home from work at about 7pm the same day she found the man brandishing a panga.

As she entered the house, he allegedly grabbed her and tried to take her hostage, said Warrant Officer Annacletta Mothoalo.

The woman apparently told the man she needed to go to the bathroom and he allowed her to do so. She then escaped and alerted the police.

Police arrived and task force members entered the house, where they overpowered the suspect.

Mothoala said the man was behaving violently .

The hostage taker was said to have a mental problem as a result  of a drug habit, police said.

He was on medication to treat his drug addition, but he had allegedly decided he did not want to take the medication any longer, said Mothoala.

Currently, he was being guarded by police at a mental hospital and would remain there until his first court appearance, Mothoale said.

The three children were taken to Karl Bremmer Hospital late on Monday night for treatment.