Three teenagers and an 11-year-old girl were caught allegedly performing sex acts on each other during a movie at a cinema in Port Elizabeth at the weekend.
They were caught after a cinema controller at Baywest Mall received a complaint of public indecency from a movie-goer.
It is understood that one of the two boys‚ an 18-year-old‚ was caught allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old girl‚ while the other girl‚ aged 11‚ was caught in an alleged sex act with a 16-year-old boy.
This was confirmed by four cinema employees who asked not to be named.
Police spokesman Captain Johan Rheeder said the case was handed over to the Child Protection Unit for further investigation.
"I can confirm that the charges related are all sexual cases‚" he said.
Ster-Kinekor chief executive John Sikiotis said the four youngsters had been taken to the mall’s security office after the alleged incident.
He said the police were called as well as the parents of the two boys and the grandfather of the girls.
"The cinema manager and controller accompanied the girls to the police station to report the incident‚" Sikiotis said.
"We are constantly reviewing and enhancing our controls and procedures to ensure the safety and security of our patrons‚ and will critically assess the full circumstances of this most unfortunate incident as part of our review process."
He said this was the first incident of its kind at any Ster-Kinekor in the country.
Baywest Mall general manager Sonja de Necker confirmed the incident.
She said the 11-year-old girl and three teenagers were caught at about 6.30pm on Saturday.
"As this incident is being investigated by the police‚ we are unable to provide further details‚" De Necker said.
"We are confident‚ however‚ that it was handled with the utmost care and professionalism by Baywest security and Ster-Kinekor management."
Port Elizabeth attorney Kuban Chetty said the 16-year-old boy who allegedly performed a sex act on the 11-year-old girl could face a rape charge. "An 11-year-old cannot give consent and therefore a sexual act performed on her will be termed rape‚" Chetty said.
"The minimum sentence for rape of a minor is life imprisonment.
"However‚ if found guilty‚ he can prove substantial and compelling circumstances to avoid the minimum sentence‚ and due to his age that is already a factor."
It is legal for children between the ages of 12 and 15 to have sex with each other.
A bill decriminalising sex between consenting adolescents was adopted by the National Assembly last month.
Teenagers over the age of 16 are allowed to have consensual sex.
Girl‚ 11‚ and teens at centre of PE mall sex drama
They were caught after a cinema controller at Baywest Mall received a complaint of public indecency from a movie-goer.
It is understood that one of the two boys‚ an 18-year-old‚ was caught allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old girl‚ while the other girl‚ aged 11‚ was caught in an alleged sex act with a 16-year-old boy.
This was confirmed by four cinema employees who asked not to be named.
Police spokesman Captain Johan Rheeder said the case was handed over to the Child Protection Unit for further investigation.
"I can confirm that the charges related are all sexual cases‚" he said.
Ster-Kinekor chief executive John Sikiotis said the four youngsters had been taken to the mall’s security office after the alleged incident.
He said the police were called as well as the parents of the two boys and the grandfather of the girls.
"The cinema manager and controller accompanied the girls to the police station to report the incident‚" Sikiotis said.
"We are constantly reviewing and enhancing our controls and procedures to ensure the safety and security of our patrons‚ and will critically assess the full circumstances of this most unfortunate incident as part of our review process."
He said this was the first incident of its kind at any Ster-Kinekor in the country.
Baywest Mall general manager Sonja de Necker confirmed the incident.
She said the 11-year-old girl and three teenagers were caught at about 6.30pm on Saturday.
"As this incident is being investigated by the police‚ we are unable to provide further details‚" De Necker said.
"We are confident‚ however‚ that it was handled with the utmost care and professionalism by Baywest security and Ster-Kinekor management."
Port Elizabeth attorney Kuban Chetty said the 16-year-old boy who allegedly performed a sex act on the 11-year-old girl could face a rape charge. "An 11-year-old cannot give consent and therefore a sexual act performed on her will be termed rape‚" Chetty said.
"The minimum sentence for rape of a minor is life imprisonment.
"However‚ if found guilty‚ he can prove substantial and compelling circumstances to avoid the minimum sentence‚ and due to his age that is already a factor."
It is legal for children between the ages of 12 and 15 to have sex with each other.
A bill decriminalising sex between consenting adolescents was adopted by the National Assembly last month.
Teenagers over the age of 16 are allowed to have consensual sex.
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