- Two suspects appeared in Ogies Magistrate’s Court, facing charges of child grooming and statutory rape.
- Police allege the woman encouraged the victim to engage in sexual acts with multiple men in exchange for money.
- Both suspects remain in custody and are set to request bail on 14 January 2026.
Two suspects appeared in the Ogies Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 8 January 2026, following their arrest on charges of child grooming and statutory rape. The court ordered that both individuals remain in custody.
The 25-year-old woman and her alleged 33-year-old male friend were arrested on Monday, 5 January 2026, after police received a report involving a 15-year-old girl. The suspects are scheduled to return to court on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, when they are expected to formally request bail.
Police respond to report of child grooming
According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, information was received at approximately 10.10pm from the complainant, the mother of the victim. She reported that a woman at Oyco in Phola allegedly encouraged, instructed, and persuaded her child to engage in sexual activities with several men in the area.
Ndubane said police acted quickly on the report. “The initial inquiry revealed that, according to the complainant, the victim stated that the woman was known to her at Oyco, where she frequently spends time with friends. She constantly encouraged, instructed, and persuaded her and other female friends to engage in sexual activities with various men so that the men would pay her and share a portion with the girls,” Ndubane explained.
Alleged incidents and coercion
He added that the victim alleged that on Monday, 5 January 2026, at approximately 10am, the accused woman compelled her to have intercourse with a 33-year-old man known to her and gave her R100 in cash. “The complainant stated that on the same day, at around 12:30pm, the woman coerced the victim into having sexual intercourse with her purported male friend, who had assured them that payment would be made later.”
Investigation and arrests
The matter was reported to the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit. The suspects were traced and successfully located at Oyco, in the Four Room Section of Phola.
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