‘My girlfriend (11) told me she was 18’
…body structure and meeting area convinced the suspect that the victim was telling the truth
A rape suspect, Bonginkhosi Ayanda Mavuso (23) has told the High Court that the complainant he is accused of raping lied about her real age.
He was on April 3 arrested for rape and charged with contravening Section 3 (3) (a) of the Sexual Offence and Domestic Violence Act 15 of 2018 for unlawfully having sexual intercourse with an 11-year-old once without a condom.
The high school-going suspect told the court that he met the victim three months ago at a sports ground where he is currently schooling and when he proposed love to her, she told him she was 18 years old.
He took into consideration her mature body structure and the fact that they met at the High School sports ground and believed her.
Mavuso stated that before they engaged in sexual intercourse on the day in question, she allegedly disclosed to him that she previously had engaged in sexual relations with two other boys from the surrounding area, and assured him she was of mature age and could consent to the encounter.
“I only discovered her real age when I was arrested that she had lied. At all material times in our two-month relationship, I was under the impression that the complainant is 18 and was about to complete high school,” Mavuso submitted.
He stated that he is innocent and will plead not guilty during trial.
Bail was granted at E50,000 and Mavuso was ordered to pay E5,000 cash and the rest as surety and he is expected to report at the Piggs Peak police station every last Friday of the month pending finalisation of the matter.