ARNOT – The uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party in Mpumalanga has called on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) not to “sleep on the job” in the rape case of a minor in Arnot near Hendrina.
MK is demanding the assignment of top prosecutors to ensure the strongest possible conviction in the interest of justice.
A six-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 26-year-old Ethiopian national on Thursday, April 3, in the area — a crime that has sent shockwaves throughout the Steve Tshwete communities.
In a statement issued by former Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, now the MK Mpumalanga convenor, the party urged the provincial NPA to treat the matter with utmost seriousness.
“The rape of a child is a vile crime and must be prosecuted with precision, care, and the strongest legal expertise available,” the statement read.
“We demand that the best prosecutors be assigned to this case and that justice is served swiftly and decisively.”
The party reaffirmed its commitment to building safer communities for women and children and to standing in solidarity with all survivors of gender-based violence.
According to police reports, the child had been sent to buy items from a local tuckshop on the day of the incident. The case was reported and is being investigated by members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit.
The suspect was arrested on Saturday, April 5, and appeared in the Hendrina Magistrate’s Court on Monday, April 7. He remains in custody, and the case has been postponed to April 14, 2025 for further investigation.
In response to MK’s demands, the NPA said it would not take instructions from any political party. NPA Mpumalanga spokesperson Monica Nyuswa stated:
“We prosecute without fear, favour or prejudice. We will not take any instructions, guidance or directive on how to handle cases.”
Nyuswa further emphasised that the NPA treats all cases with the seriousness they deserve and that the assignment of prosecutors remains an internal process.
“The NPA uses prosecutor-guided investigations to ensure that justice is served,” she added.
