‘Corrective rape’ case deferred
Trial could be going to high court
The case against two men accused of the murder of a Soweto woman could be transferred to the high court.
This emerged yesterday in the Protea Magistrate’s Court where Tsotang Mokgethi, 38, and Jackson Alofeyo, 34, stand accused of the kidnapping, rape and murder of Lerato Moloi about three months ago.
Her body was found in a veld in Naledi, Soweto, in May.
Moloi is alleged to be a victim of “corrective rape” by Mokgethi and Alofeyo.
Yesterday, Magistrate Herman Badenhorst postponed the case to September 27.
“We are waiting for the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) to inform [us] if the case will be referred to the Johannesburg High Court,” said Badenhorst.
A group of female protesters mostly clad in purple T-shirts were left disappointed that the case was postponed again.
One of the women, Jade Madingwane, 27, said: “This is the fourth time that the case is being postponed, either for lack of evidence or something. Every time there is a hate crime it seems like we have to fight just for the case to go to trial.”
The deceased’s mother Zodwa Moloi said she was still grieving. “I will never forget what happened on Mother’s Day (May 13). A neighbour asked me when I last saw Lerato. He then asked Lerato’s uncle to come with him. Later, when they returned, they were with cops.
“That is how I found out that my child had been killed. I look strong outside but inside I am hurting.”
The distraught mother said her daughter’s sexual orientation was not a secret.
“She liked playing soccer and was good at it. I remember she wore jersey number 11. She did not like girls’ sports and mostly had guy friends. In Grade 6 she stopped wearing skirts to school and only wore pants,” she said.
Gauteng MEC for community safety Sizakele NkosiMalobane, speaking at the Women’s Day luncheon, said about 65 women had died in the Naledi precinct between March and May.