Vuyolwethu Sangotsha

Vuyolwethu Sangotsha

An East London woman has appeared in court on charges of indecently assaulting several boys, including her 11-year-old son.

The woman, 32, of Nompumelelo informal settlement, appeared in the East London magistrates' court yesterday and was released on R500 bail.

She was arrested at a local public park on Tuesday.

She was allegedly hiding from the police who were looking for in connection with the rape of young boys.

The state alleges that the woman indecently assaulted her son and paid young boys in her neighbourhood to have sex with her.

Though the woman is claimed to have abused a number of young boys, only one family has laid a charge against her.

Yesterday police spokesman Superintendent Mtati Tana urged parents to come forward and lay charges if their sons had been involved with the accused.

Tana said that the police suspected that the stigma associated with indecent assault was discouraging other families from reporting the matter to the police.

The mother of one of the alleged victims, the only one to come forward, said she was relieved that the woman had been apprehended.

She said she was worried when the woman went into hiding, fearing that she might evade capture and not be brought to justice.

"My son is mentally disturbed and his condition has deteriorated since the incident," she said.

"If she is guilty of sexually abusing my son, she must face the full might of the law."

The case was postponed to April 18 for further investigation by the police.