PEOPLE were shocked to learn that a 10-year-old girl had been sold to an 83-year-old madala who turned her into his wife.

But her family was not so kind.

They accused her seducing the old man and bringing them shame.

The girl’s 40-year-old mum from Naas, near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga, even offered to give her away to anyone willing to take her.

Police were called and the girl’s parents were arrested.

But now the mum says she has left her 46-year-old husband and wants to help her daughter.

“I was angry when I was arrested. It was my husband who sold our daughter to the old man,” she said.

The mum now lives with a new boyfriend in the same village.

She told Daily Sun: “My daughter was called an evil whore by my family and her clothes were thrown out. Social workers took her away but only for a month.

“I have nowhere for her to go because my boyfriend doesn’t want her to live with us.”

She said a few years ago her uncle said she was a bad mother and took three of her daughters to live with relatives.

“I realise my uncle was right. I have messed up my children’s lives.”

The girl’s father denied selling the girl to the old man but would not comment further.

Police spokesman Colonel Leonard Hlathi said the girl’s parents and two others were arrested last month on charges of rape and assisting rape.

Human Settlements spokesman Freddy Ngobe said social workers would have to investigate and contact his department for help.