A 40-year-old Zimbabwean man based in South Africa has been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) for raping his two daughters aged between 13 and 15 years several times for over a year until the eldest fell pregnant.

The man was arrested in the Zwide area of Port Elizabeth on Monday following interventions by the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network (ZiMSN) in the neighbouring country.

ZiMSN secretary-general Shelton Chiyangwa confirmed the development, saying the two teenagers had been taken to a safe place for counselling and related support. He said:

This is a very sad ad heartbreaking story. The Victims have been taken to a safe place with the assistance of our head of social services and development Otilia Lynette Wafawarova.

Chiyangwa said the accused appeared at the New Brighton Magistrate court in Port Elizabeth facing charges of rape and was remanded in custody to 30 June for bail application.