A 15-year-old boy was being sought by police following the rape of a seven-year-old girl in Mpukane village in Ngqamakhwe, Butterworth police said on Friday.

Captain Jackson Manatha said the girl was walking home from a tuck shop on Thursday evening when the boy dragged her into a forest and raped her.

After raping the child, the boy is alleged to have then warned her not to inform anyone about the incident.

"He allegedly threatened her not to inform anybody. However, the victim informed her mother about the rape," said Manatha.

On hearing about the rape, the girl's family went to inform the boy's family but they are alleged to have tried to discourage them from reporting the matter to police.

"It is alleged that the family of the suspect persuaded the family of the victim not to open the case as they were going to pay for the medical expenses incurred by the victim's family," he said.

The girl's family went on to report the matter but the boy has not been arrested.

"It seems he is eluding police and his parents are not co-operating but we will arrest him soon," Manatha said.