A three-year-old girl is currently in an induced coma, fighting for her life, after allegedly being r3ped, st3bbed, and left for d3ad on a shack’s roof in the Lion Park informal settlement in Diepsloot, Gauteng, South Africa.
The 28-year-old suspect, Dlodlo, the mother’s ex-boyfriend and a once-trusted family friend who often babysat the child, was reportedly caught by community members, while drinking with friends, and appeared unaware that the child had survived and was fighting for her life in the hospital.
He allegedly confessed, claiming that “the devil made him do it.”
A community member discovered Warona (a pseudonym) on the roof of the suspect’s shack on Sunday, September 7, 2025, around 6pm.
The child had been under the care of her grandmother while her mother was at work when Dlodlo took her and two other children under the pretence of buying them sweets.
When the other two children returned without Warona, neighbours alerted the grandmother.
The incident has left the community reeling and sparked urgent calls for justice.
Family members told journalists on Saturday, September 20, that medical reports confirmed the child had been s3xually v!0lated, st@bbed in the neck, and left on the roof before the suspect fled the scene.
“She was brought down from the roof and rushed to Diepsloot Clinic, but her injuries were too severe. She was referred to Yusuf Dadoo Hospital, then Leratong, and finally Baragwanath Hospital,” a close relative explained.
“She underwent extensive surgery on her gen!tals and neck before being placed in an induced coma.”
The family described the suspect as a trusted figure.
“We didn’t see any problem with him spending time with the baby. That’s why we didn’t worry when she wasn’t back home yet,” a family member said.
They revealed that when the community learned of the crime, they launched a search and found the alleged perpetrator was eventually found drinking with friends after a tip-off.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) had earlier issued a public alert and a wanted picture of the suspect a day after the incident, appealing to the public for assistance in tracing him.
The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) detectives, along with members from the K9, Drone unit and Crime Intelligence, mobilised resources to find him.
By the time officers reached the scene, the shack where the attack took place had already been torn down by outraged community members, according to the statement.
Police then warned against tampering with crime scenes, stressing that it can compromise evidence and hinder ongoing investigations.
Gauteng Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that the man appeared in court on September 12, and is scheduled to appear at Randburg Magistrate’s Court on November 7, 2025.
“Police can confirm that a suspect who was wanted for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl in Diepsloot was apprehended by the private security officers on Tuesday, September 9. He was charged with rape and appeared before Randburg Magistrate’s Court.”
As the case proceeds, civil society groups, the victim’s family, and the Lanseria community continue to demand swift justice. For them, this case has become a painful reminder of South Africa’s ongoing battle against gender-based violence and child abuse and the urgent need to protect its most vulnerable citizens.
