$50 bail for neighbour rape accused

A 45-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man was arrested for allegedly raping his neighbour’s 18 year-old daughter who is in Form Four at a local school.

The Emabuthweni suburb man, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndhlovu facing rape charges last Friday.

Mr Ndhlovu remanded him to September 12 on $50 bail.

“You will be out on bail on condition that you report to Emabuthweni Police Station twice a week and do not interfere with state witnesses,” said the magistrate.

The accused said he had been in a relationship with the complainant for a month.

“I did not forcibly have sex with her, but we had consensual sex since we have been in love for a month now,” he said.

Prosecuting, Ms Margret Takawira said the accused went to the girl’s house last month intending to buy scones and then raped her.

“On July 31, at around 10AM, the accused arrived at the complainant’s residence intending to buy scones and found the complainant alone. When the complainant went to fetch the scones, the accused followed her and locked the door. He groped and dragged her whilst demanding sex and she refused,” she said.

Ms Takawira said the accused pushed the girl onto the sofa and pulled up her dress forcefully, before having unprotected sex with her.

The court heard that the complainant went to Pelandaba clinic for a medical check-up and a medical report will be presented as evidence.—@NyarieBakie.