A Free State man appeared in the Bethlehem Magistrate's Court on Monday for allegedly raping four young girls at his house.

Police spokesperson Mmako Mophiring said the 41-year-old man appeared on six counts of rape. Another ten charges were still being investigated.

The man was arrested after some of the girls complained to their parents about pains in their stomachs and private parts over the weekend.

Mophiring said the four girls were apparently raped on Tuesday.

"The 14-year-old girl from Bohlokong near Bethlehem was with three other friends', aged 8, 10 and 12, in the house of the suspect, known to them," he said. They were at the house to cook and clean.

The man sent the girls to buy him sorghum beer and cigarettes. "When they all got back, he closed the door and informed them that he was going to rape them one by one. He allegedly raped them."

Mophiring said one of the victims claimed this was the fourth time the man had raped her. Some of the other girls had also indicated that the man had raped them before.

He said the man was arrested after the four girls and two others — all between eight and 14 — laid charges with the Bethlehem police on Friday.

Sapa