AfriForum targets alleged rapist of grandchild

Civil rights group AfriForum has set its sights on a “successful” and “respected” businessperson in the financial sector for allegedly raping his three-year-old grandchild.

AfriForum’s private prosecution unit’s head, Advocate Gerrie Nel, announced yesterday that the organisation has targeted the now 60-year-old Pretoria man after police failed to take statements from key witnesses when the matter was reported in 2016.

While the alleged rape happened in September 2016, a docket was opened at the Garsfontein police station in December that year.

A month later, the case was closed without any prosecution.

“When the applicant first approached our office and told us the facts, we were astonished that the police had failed to take a statement from the important independent witnesses – the school teacher and the psychologist,” Nel explained. “We were also astonished that detectives had not taken steps to secure cell phone evidence.”