The parents of a four-year-old girl from Eldorado Park are due to appear in the Protea Magistrate’s Court in Soweto this morning, as their criminal case continues to draw intense public scrutiny.
The pair was arrested in August following the child’s death. The father faces charges of murder, rape, assault and child abuse, while the mother is charged with failing to report sexual offences allegedly committed against her daughter.
The young girl was found unconscious in a shack with severe injuries including head trauma, bruising and a swollen eye after her father allegedly assaulted her. She later died in hospital.
The horrific case has sparked widespread outrage, with Eldorado Park residents staging protests outside court during each appearance, calling for justice for the child.
The National Prosecuting Authority says it is awaiting further results before the Director of Public Prosecutions decides whether the matter should be transferred to a higher court.