Man raped nine-month-old baby

A South African was today convicted of raping a nine-month-old baby girl in a case that highlighted the country’s horrifically high levels of child abuse.

David Potse, 23, who was found guilty after evidence from the baby’s 17-year-old mother, was awaiting a High Court ruling on mitigating evidence before being sentenced.

The baby had to undergo reconstructive surgery, after she was raped near Upington, 250 miles southwest of Johannesburg.

More than 21,000 child rapes were reported in 2000, although the actual number is suspected to be much higher.