"The girl was raped by a 37-year-old man who is her grandfather's friend and a neighbour," said Captain Jabulani Mdletshe.

She was raped on Tuesday after her grandfather sent her to collect cigarettes from his friend, said Mdletshe.

"When the grandfather saw that they girl was not coming back, he sent another boy to call her. But the boy found the girl naked and sleeping with the man."

The girl had told police that the man had raped her three times before.

The man was arrested and expected to appear in court on Wednesday.