Big Bend – The Royal Eswatini Police Service has arrested and charged two suspects in connection with separate rape cases of minors in Lubuli, with one of the suspects linked to a sex trade agreement he made with a couple.
The report says a 32-year-old man of Bethany, during the period of June 2024, allegedly sexually assaulted a 15-year-old minor of Mabondvweni, impregnating her in the process.
Lubuli, estimated at 100-110 km from Manzini, lies close to the South African border to the northwest of Nsoko along the road to Maloma. 
In a case that occurred about two years ago, the police say after thorough investigations, they arrested the suspect yesterday, charging him with contravening the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act 2018.
The couple was also charged with a commercial sexual exploitation offence under Section 13, subsections (1) and (2), of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act of 2018.
According to the report, the minor was staying with a related couple, her aunt and her husband, aged 29 and 31, respectively, that sold her out to the perpetrator ‘in exchange for food and money’.
The minor managed to return to her grandmother’s home and told her what happened before the elderly woman reported the matter to the police.
In the second arrest, police say that a 22-year-old man of Mabantaneni was charged with a rape allegation of a 16-year-old girl of the same area.
According to reports, on June 16 at about 1800 hours, the suspect allegedly raped a 16-year-old minor in the same area.
The four suspects were scheduled to appear before Big Bend Magistrate’s Court today to face their charges.
