An Eastern Cape father has been arrested after he allegedly raped, and abused his 8-year-old son.

Police were alerted to a home near Peddie last week Wednesday, after community members complained about the little boy being cuffed and chained. The police’s Priscilla Naidu says the child was then found alone and cuffed with a chain, when officers arrived.

“On 31 May 2023, police were alerted of the maltreatment and abuse by community members of the child being cuffed and chained at his house at Mgababa Village outside Peddie. When police arrived at the house, they found the child alone and cuffed with a chain. He was freed and taken for medical treatment and to a place of safety,” says Naidu.

The suspect eventually fled and remained on the run from authorities.

On Sunday, the investigating officer traced the man to a relative’s house in NU11 in Motherwell, in Gqeberha. He was eventually apprehended and detained on charges of rape and child neglect.

The 53-year-old suspect is scheduled to appear in the Peddie Magistrates’ Court today.

#sapsEC 53yr-old Father arrested on 04/06 for the alleged rape and abuse of his 8yr-old son at Mgababa Village outside Peddie. He faces charges of rape and child neglect. He will appear in Peddie Magistrate’s Court on 06/06 #ActAgainstAbuse #EndGBV MEhttps://t.co/vW3wDYHSuu pic.twitter.com/5MMDfmFV4C

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 5, 2023

The South African Police Services’ latest crime statistics, for January 2023 to March 2023 showed that 10 512 rape cases were reported to police, during this period.

4 768 of the rape incidents took place at the home of the victim, or the home of the perpetrator.

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