United against bail
Community, ANCWL picket outside court
A35-year old man appeared in the Ezibeleni Magistrate’s court on Monday for allegedly raping a 13-year-old Nogate Senior Primary School pupil at his home on February 14.
Ezibeleni residents, ANC Women’s League members and Nogate pupils picketed outside the court demanding the accused be denied bail by magistrate Des Krummeck.
The accused made his first court appearance on February 21, and the case was postponed to Monday.
The victim’s mother, 37, said she heard about the incident from two of her daughter’s friends who said they wanted to tell her about something that had happened to their friend.
“I went to look for my daughter and asked why she had not informed me about the incident.
“She said another child had told her if she said anything, she would be in trouble. I told her father and we reported the matter to the police.”
The mother said her daughter was not coping, had become forgetful and seemed scared all the time.
The victim’s father, 45, who lives in Chancele, said he felt immensely upset and disgusted about what had happened to his daughter.
“There is nothing as frustrating and disgusting for me as raising a daughter and have a man old enough to be her father, see a woman in her. My daughter is traumatised and trivial things startle her after this incident.
“I am livid. I have also heard this was not the first time the accused had done something like this.
“My daughter is apparently his third victim, but I am not sure if a case was opened against him previously. I hope the justice system will play its role and ensure the accused remains behind bars.”
He said his daughter had lost trust in men and did not feel safe.
“The men in my family, including my brothers, are trying hard to comfort her and make her aware that she is safe with them and that not all men are as heartless as the accused.
“She can hardly look people in the eye when speaking to them now and she is not a shy child.
“This has affected her negatively and that breaks my heart. She has stopped going to school while she receives professional help.”
ANC Women’s League leader of gender-based violence against women and children, Bulelwa Mgijima, said they condemned the incident and hoped the accused would get a hefty sentence.
“We have submitted a memorandum to the magistrate which clearly states how we feel about the matter and the negative effects releasing this man on bail will have on this community.
“Women and children will not feel safe if the accused is released. We want the government to get rid of these barbaric molesters in our communities.”
Mgijima said the victim and her friend, who was also traumatised by the incident, were receiving help at a crisis centre.
The case was postponed by Krummeck to Friday, when the accused will be expected to make a formal bail application. He remains in police custody.