A three-year-old girl is in an induced coma, fighting for her life, after allegedly being raped, stabbed, and left for dead on a shack's roof in the Lion Park informal settlement in Diepsloot. The suspect, 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 “the devil made him do it.”
A community member discovered Warona (a pseudonym) on the roof of the 28-year-old 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 the Saturday Star that medical reports confirmed the child had been sexually violated, stabbed 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 genitals 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) took to its official X page on Monday, September 9, to issue a public alert and a wanted picture of the suspect, 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 vital 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."
Katlego Segole, district leader of Hope in Every Community, denounced the brutalisation of women and children, pledging the organisation’s support to the family, including counselling and assistance with the court process. It has also launched a petition demanding accountability and stronger protections against gender-based violence.
“We call on communities across South Africa to rise together and say no more to gender-based violence, child abuse, and systemic failures that allow perpetrators to continue harming innocent lives.”
Dr Shahid Omar of the Teddy Bear Foundation expressed grave concern over the rising frequency of such cases. “It is very concerning. The rate and prevalence are actually very alarming because previously you would get these stats, and maybe a month or two would go by, and then suddenly you would hear a few cases. But now it is just cases surfacing every day, and on the other end, it is reassuring that more cases are being reported because previously we did believe that many of them were not reported. So there was underfrequent reporting, where cases were not brought to the attention of the authorities, leaving perpetrators to continue violating victims. So there are two sides to this: yes, we are hearing more cases, but there is also a positive – at least they are reporting, and they are getting support when they report as well. Communities are also becoming more and more vigilant, so there seems to be more vigilance. And communities are taking action to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book.”
Omar emphasised the role of communities in protecting children. “The communities need to make it their business; there are rights and responsibilities. Each and every child has the right to be protected, but each and every individual has a responsibility to protect each and every child. So we really need to empower our communities and make them realise that they have to make it their business. They cannot bury their heads in the sand and look around to see what’s going on.”
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.
Gauteng NPA spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, had not commented on questions at the time of publication.
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