By Obakeng Maje

The five suspects who were arrested for allegedly gang-raping a 13-year-olf girl on two different occasions in Mahikeng

 should not be granted bail as they are heartless and a danger to society, North West Premier Mme Thandi Modise said in condemning the alleged incidents on Wednesday.

The Premier called for authorities to give the girl the necessary psychological support and counselling to assist her deal with the severe trauma she had experienced. 

 “While we condemn the barbaric act of the alleged perpetrators, we commend the vigilance of the school teacher who had observed the change in the girl’s behaviour and urge parents not to ignore withdrawal symptoms in their children, “said Premier Modise.

Modise said that the extent to which abuse of alcohol, drugs and pornography are contributing towards the scourge of sexual abuse of women and girl children needs to be investigated and for the effective implementation of the Programme of Action for the Integrated Provincial Strategy to Prevent and Combat Sexual Offences to be evaluated.

“The spate of rape incidents that we have experienced in recent weeks particularly those involving victims that are known to perpetrators have reached unacceptable and alarming proportions in our province and country and point to moral decay that needs urgent intervention before communities start taking the law into their own hands. We call on real men to condemn and support the call to action to end this scourge,” Premier Modise said in fury.

Police reportedly arrested the men aged between 19 and 23 on Tuesday for the alleged raping the girl in July this year and again on September 13.The men are expected to appear in the Mafikeng Magistrates court on Thursday.