EASTERN CAPE - 3 MEN APPEAR IN COURT FOR KIDNAPPING & FORCING GIRL, 17, INTO MARRIAGE

Three men appeared briefly at the Umtata Magistrates Court for allegedly kidnapping and forcing a 17-year-old girl into marriage.

Many young girls have been abducted, raped and forced into marriage under the guise of the Ukuthwala practice in the Eastern Cape.

In Bizana, just outside Mthatha, abduction, rape and forcing young girls into marriage is a common occurrence. A 17 year old girl was sold off recently by her grandfather and her uncle for R39 000 and a live cow.

Unlike many other victims, the girl spoke out and later, all 3 men were arrested. They are now out on bail.

"I am so heartbroken. I thought I was helping the child. Her mother gave birth to her while at home. She's had several other kids and she never married. When I looked at the situation I asked her what we can do and we agreed that we will marry her off because we are poor,” said the victim's uncle, Thomas Magula.

The girl was rescued by the Hawks after a family member asked a local NGO to intervene.

"As young as he is, I don’t expect him to just pick up a young girl as if he is picking up a packet of biscuits in a supermarket. A young girl is not a commodity. She is a human being and still has a right to an education," said Petros Majola of Khula Community Development Project.

The 26-year-old "husband" to-be declined to comment. The case was postponed to the 21st of April for further investigation.

The young girl is now living with a relative in Cape Town.

VIA - sabc