MANDELA RAPE ALLEGATION - THE INSIDE STORY
Father of girl says alleged attacker has phoned and left text messages
THE father of the young girl allegedly raped by Nelson Mandela’s grandson has claimed that her alleged attacker “harassed her” — days after the incident and before the matter was reported to the police.
“From Monday, after this happened, he kept calling her every day, harassing her on the phone,” said the girl’s father, who may not be named to protect the identity of the highschool girl.
It is unclear what the content of the cellphone text messages or conversations were, but they are expected to be submitted as part of an ongoing bail application at the Johannesburg Regional Court on Tuesday.
The South African icon’s grandson was arrested at his Houghton home last Saturday in connection with the alleged rape that took place on August 7 in the yard of Mama’s Shebeen, a popular restaurant in Greenside, Johannesburg.
The 24-year-old intends pleading not guilty to charges of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault.
The girl’s father, a 41-year old businessman, blew the whistle on the case last weekend after his family were called to the home of Winnie MadikizelaMandela — prior to the case being reported to the police.
He explained how, six days after the alleged rape, his exwife had called him to her home to break the news. “When I arrived there she met me outside and told me our daughter has been raped by a Mandela and that police were there.”
He said he found a man inside claiming to be a policeman.
When grilled for his badge number, the man identified himself as Ashley Jacobs and conceded that he had been sent there by Madikizela-Mandela. “I asked this Jacobs how he ended up at the house and he said he had traced the house via my daughter’s phone.”
The father said Jacobs then told them that Madikizela-Mandela wanted to see the family and they drove to her home in Soweto.
He waited in the car while his sister, his ex-wife, their daughter and a friend went inside.
His friend, whose identity is being withheld to protect the girl, said they waited close to 30 minutes in a lounge area before the 78-year-old MadikizelaMandela appeared.
“It was after 9pm and we were told she had already gone to rest,” he said.
The friend said MadikizelaMandela expressed shock about the alleged rape, said she “was sorry” about what had happened and embraced the girl.
She assured the family that she would help them to open a case, said the father’s friend.
“She kept rubbing her [the girl’s] back and told her that she would help her.
“We must have left there some time after 10pm and she had said she would telephone the provincial [police] commissioner to help us open a case on the next day.
“It looked like she wanted this thing to go forward,” said the friend.
Attempts to obtain comment from Madikizela-Mandela were unsuccessful.
The girl’s father said provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Lesetja Mothiba called him several times the next day.
“He called me about three times on Friday saying he wanted to meet. Each time I told him he would find me at work, but he never arrived. He did help them [the family] open a case though and the boy was arrested at his house in Houghton.
“I was told it took them something like three hours before he came out of the house.”
The accused appeared in court again on Friday seeking bail. The matter was postponed to Tuesday as the magistrate asked for a copy of the girl’s barcoded ID.
His advocate, Nico Swart, told magistrate JP du Plessis that the young Mandela will plead not guilty and required bail because the state did not have a case against him.
Swart said his client would say the sex was consensual and he believed the complainant was over the age of 16. He cited the girl’s Facebook account, which listed her as being 16.
They handed in an affidavit from the restaurant owner stating that a manager had checked on the girl and her friends’ ages on the night.
The father said that since learning of the alleged rape he had had many sleepless nights.
“I’m very distraught about this. It hurts a lot and I can tell you now as a father I have not slept more than a couple of hours this whole week.
“Her life will never be the same again,” he said.
He said his daughter was undergoing counselling.
Gauteng police spokeswoman Brigadier Mashadi Selepe said the police were not in a position to respond to what the family was saying as the matter was sub judice.
She said: “The provincial commissioner, by virtue of his appointment as the head of the police in Gauteng, is involved in all cases and [he is] always available to provide support.”
The father said his daughter had not spoken to him about the incident, but she was speaking to her mother and aunt.
The young Mandela appeared calm in the dock.
He was supported by relatives, including Ndaba Mandela and Makaziwe Mandela.
It hurts a lot and I can tell you now as a father I have not slept more than a couple of hours this whole week