WATCH: Community outraged in Hanover Park after missing girl found with convicted child rapist

Residents from Hanover Park on the Cape Flats were baying for blood on Tuesday evening after a missing girl from the area was found in the house with a former convict. 

The nine-year-old girl was last seen between 3 pm and 4 pm. 

The Public Relations Officer for the Faith and Hope Missing Persons, Dennis George, said they got the call at about 5 pm about the child who had gone missing. 

“The suspect had sent the girl to the shop with R20 to buy him milk. On her way to the shop, she got a friend and told her she would be back; she would just be taking the milk back. 

He probably built a relationship with the girl so that she would feel comfortable going to the shop for him,” George said. 

The man, who has been out on parole for two months, is alleged to have raped a child in the community before. 

When there was no sign of the little girl, members of the community mobilised in search of the little girl, and all hell broke loose when about 500 to 600 residents found that the child was inside the residence of the parolee. 

“The most important thing here is that this man is a reoffender. He has done something like this before."

“Members of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) were trying to calm the crowd, but when they said the suspect also had rights, things went crazy,” George said. 

He said the young girl and the suspect remained in the house, and Philippi SAPS was outnumbered. 

“The biggest challenge for SAPS was getting the victim out. But, we must give SAPS their due because within an hour and 30 minutes, resources from Mitchells Plain, Manenberg, Wynberg, Law Enforcement, Public Order Policing, and members of the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) were all on board,” George explained. 

Western Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg, confirmed a public violence case was opened for investigation. 

“Philippi police registered a public violence case for investigation following an incident on Johnvlei Road, Hanover Park, on Tuesday evening, May 13, 2025, where police members came under attack. The police members followed up on information about a missing nine-year-old girl who was found at the premises. A crowd of approximately 200 people gathered around the premises and demanded that the suspect be released to them,” Twigg said. 

He said police took action to disperse the riotous crowd. 

“We can confirm that a 51-year-old male was taken in for questioning. Police vehicles were damaged during the incident. Nobody was arrested for public violence. The investigation into the matter is ongoing,” Twigg said. 

The girl was returned to her family, however, George told IOL that the young girl is still in shock and she has been taken to the hospital for a medical checkup. 

Cape Argus