Grandfathers are often recognised for their unwavering affection and the safeguarding of their grandchildren. However, in Ha-Muraga village situated outside Thohoyandou, a 73-year-old grandfather allegedly crossed the boundaries of familial love by repeatedly subjecting his granddaughters to sexual assault over an extended period.

These disturbing incidents reportedly involved two girls, currently aged 10 and 16 years, and occurred at their residence in Muraga village.

Acting Vhembe police spokesperson Sergeant Vuledzani Dathi explained that the mother was bathing her children when the younger girl began complaining about discomfort in her private area. Suspecting the worst, the mother took her daughters to Tshilidzini Hospital on 1 August, where they underwent examinations and interviews. The older sister admitted that between January and March 2017, when she was 11 years old, her grandfather had raped her multiple times during both the day and night. The younger girl initially denied any assault, but after medical assessments revealed recent evidence of penetration, she disclosed that she had been repeatedly raped by her grandfather since she was eight years old.

An anonymous source close to the matter provided additional insights: “It appears this has been ongoing for years, though we only recently discovered it. One of the girls’ cousins, now 19, attested that she was raped by the grandfather twice while she lived with him. She was just 10 at the time. When asked why she didn’t share this earlier, she expressed fear. Allegedly, her grandfather warned that he would be arrested if she spoke up, and their family would suffer as he was their provider.”

The other two girls similarly claimed that their grandfather had threatened them with the same dire consequences if they disclosed the assaults. The children also revealed that their grandfather would wait until his wife went to the shops or ran errands before perpetrating the acts.

“The suspect seems to have a history of abusing family members. He previously raped his own sisters years ago. The girls are afraid that they might face repercussions if their grandfather is released on bail,” shared the source.

The suspect was arrested on 7 August and appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on 8 August on two counts of rape. The case was postponed to 14 August, with a formal bail application scheduled for 17 August.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s regional spokesperson, Ms Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, confirmed the incident.

Khosi Muraga Ntikedzeni Mphaphuli, the traditional leader of Muraga village, expressed shock at these revelations. “Appearances can be deceptive. Judging by his exterior, you’d never suspect him capable of such a crime. I had even considered appointing him as a councillor due to his perceived wisdom. I am disappointed,” he remarked.

“Years ago, his younger brother committed a heinous act that stunned the entire village—he murdered his wife before taking his own life. I’ve heard from others that this elderly man would threaten his cousins, saying he’d do to them what his brother had done. At one point, he relocated to Itsani, but later returned after his brother’s tragedy. We believed he returned to care for his brother’s orphaned children. I encourage anyone facing similar situations to speak out and seek assistance,” added Khosi Mphaphuli.