Child, 3, caged, starved

2003-07-30 15:17

Nelspruit - A three-year-old White River girl was locked in a cage while her grandparents allegedly sexually assaulted her and failed to provide for even her most basic needs, Mpumalanga police said on Wednesday.

Sergeant Ralda Visser said police got a tip-off recently from a travelling pastor that a child was being incarcerated in a compound in Brondal, near White River.

Visser said that when police went to investigate they found the girl had already been removed from the cage. However, she said there was evidence the child had been battered with sticks or other weapons and had been sexually assaulted.

It also seemed the child had no clothes of her own and had to beg naked for food. She slept on bits of plastic in the cage.

Visser said once the police had removed her from her grandparents, the child was given medical attention before being housed in a place of safety.

She said while some of the neighbours had been aware that the child was being neglected or abused, it appeared they were too intimidated to report the 44-year-old man or his 42-year-old wife.

They were now starting to come forward as the grandparents had been arrested and were in custody.

Visser said the whereabouts of the girl's father was unknown while the mother was seriously ill in hospital.

The grandparents appeared in White River magistrate's court on Monday on charges of rape, grievous bodily harm and attempted murder.

Their case has been referred to Nelspruit regional court. No date has yet been set for their appearance.

In the meantime the pair will remain in custody.

- SAPA