Sibongile Mashaba

Sibongile Mashaba

A 26-year-old man admitted yesterday that he had kidnapped and repeatedly raped a six-year-old Mofolo, Soweto, girl.

Paul Mokgomane Mofokeng appeared in the Protea magistrate's court and admitted to magistrate Brian Nemavhidi to having committed the crimes.

Mofokeng initially said he would represent himself during the trial, but the magistrate rejected this and warned him that he faced serious charges and a possible life imprisonment.

Mofokeng then agreed that he would seek legal aid representation.

Mofokeng's appearance follows the kidnapping of the girl and her subsequent rape.

Mofokeng was arrested in Deje informal settlement in Soshanguve, Pretoria, on Saturday. Jabulani police spokesman Inspector Kay Makhubela said police were tipped off about his whereabouts, which led to his arrest.

"Our informer took us to the exact place where he was hiding," said Makhubela.

Mofokeng will go for a blood test and the results should be out before his next court appearance on Monday next week.

Mofokeng allegedly lured the child from her friends on August 19 under the pretext that her widowed mother had sent him to take her to a doctor.

Two days later, at about 2am, he dropped the young girl off at the gate of her house where she, her two sisters and mother are renting a backyard room.

Her mother took her to Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital for assessment. She will undergo an operation on November 10.

More than 30 women packed the courtroom in support of the mother and her child. People shouted at Mofokeng as he entered the courtroom, some calling him a dog.

Protesters outside the court held placards, some reading: "Mofolo North women want to rape Mokgomane", and "No bail for rapist".