Two brothers are in police custody for allegedly raping their 96-year-old great-grandmother. One of the pair, a 15-year-old boy, is expected to have his case heard on Tuesday, February 26, at the Makwane Magistrate’s Court, while his 19-year-old brother’s case is set to be heard on February 27.

The duo was arrested on Monday after a case was opened at the eastern Free State police station on Sunday, according to IOL. They are accused of raping their grandmother several times since December in QwaQwa, Free State. The family only laid a charge on Sunday as the teenagers allegedly continued raping their great-grandmother, despite a family warning.

Eastern Free State police spokesperson Sergeant Mmako Mophiring confirmed the alleged rapes started in December and said a family member took the 96-year-old to the doctor where the sexual assault was exposed. Instead of reporting the matter to police, the family allegedly reprimanded the brothers and told them to stop.

The continued sexual offences were only reported on Sunday.

“On Sunday, a case of rape was opened and our team went on a manhunt. Unfortunately, the search was unsuccessful as the suspects were not found,” Mophiring said

“On Monday, the older suspect, 19, handed himself over to the Family Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit at Makwane Police Station and this led to the arrest of the second suspect, age 15.”

(Compiled by Gopolang Chawane)

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