Bitter exchange springs during grilling of cop investigator in rape case of 11-year-old

JOHANNESBURG - A bitter back and forth has ensued in the Boksburg Magistrates Court as the lawyer representing a man accused of rape continues with his cross-examination of the investigating officer in the case.

Frik van Rensburg is questioning warrant officer, Simon Modise, about the details surrounding an incident in 2019 where the girl who was six years old child at the time was allegedly raped.

Modise previously testified that the incident happened when the victim’s sister instructed her to share a room with the man in the communal property they were sharing.

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The details only came to light when the minor turned 11-years-old and fell pregnant in December last year from another rape incident allegedly at the hands of the same man.

Van Rensburg questioned Modise about when the sister would be returning to South Africa to issue a police statement about the alleged incident.

Modise: "At the time, the mother said she would come to South Africa, but I can't remember the date that the mother told me. This year, but still."

Van Rensburg: "Do you have a problem with the memory, sir?"

Modise: "I don't."

Van Rensburg: "Because you and the mother seem to have some very serious conversations about some pertinent issues. However, initially, this denied, and all of a sudden, you're telling me you don't remember what the mother told you. If you don't have a problem with the memory, tell us what the mother said, please."

Modise: "The mother said to me, she didn't know when she will call her to come to South Africa."