Calm urged as uMthwalume rape suspect makes first court appearance
The community of uMthwalume has been urged not to take the law into their own hands over the assault and attempted rape of a seven-year-old girl.
KZN Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga made the plea outside the Umzumbe Magistrate Court on Monday, where she joined protesting locals.
A 17-year-old suspect made his first appearance and was accompanied by his guardian.
"They must allow justice to prevail because that helps us as the community to understand what happened and why."
It's understood the young child was attacked while she was walking home from school.
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The teenage suspect was accompanied by his guardian.
Shinga says her department has provided support to the affected family.
"We introduced them to social workers; some of them have been in contact already such that at any time they need to talk because healing is a process, and Social Development will be offering that."
Shinga says an additional charge was added to the matter and the case was postponed to the 29th of July for further investigations.
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