Rape story lies, says bus driver
CLAIM: COMPLAINANT’S FAMILY OWES HIM MONEY
Alleged victim’s statement read out in court by state prosecutor.
Aschool bus driver claims a 13-year-old primary school girl’s claims he repeatedly raped her at knife point were lies fabricated by her family, as they owed him money.
Nkosinathi Kekana, 29, made his second appearance before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday for allegedly raping the Grade 7 pupil instead of taking her to school.
The accused, a Soshanguve resident and father of a sevenyear-old child, was applying for bail.
According to the alleged victim’s statement, read out by state prosecutor Lazo Tshomela, Kekana had picked her up from her Soshanguve home last month.
He dropped off all the other pupils but proceeded to Suiderberg in Pretoria West instead of taking her to her school in the north of Pretoria.
“He parked the vehicle to smoke outside and then came back. I was sitting in the third seat. He came and sat next to me.
“He took a knife from his pocket and put it to my neck. He undressed me, took off my trousers and panty and penetrated without my permission. I was scared to shout because the knife was on my neck.”
Kekana claims the girl’s stories were blatant lies, made up by her parents in a bid to get out of their debt, since they owed Kekana R500 for transporting their child.
In an affidavit read out by his defence team, Kekana pleaded not guilty, adding that the state had no strong case against him.
“I deny the allegations against me and the state’s case is weak as they won’t be able to present objective facts on the matter. I plead not guilty to the rape,” Kekana said.
Magistrate Marley Mokoena is expected to give her ruling on the bail application as she needs to consider the proposed bail condition that Kekana abandon his school transport business.
Kekana is also alleged to have forced the child to steal an R18 000 cellphone from her father to pay for the outstanding debt. –