No bail for man facing rape charge: protesters
Disabled girl, 14, traumatised after attack, residents say
AUnifound man charged with the rape of a 14-year-old disabled girl should have been her trusted neighbour instead of her abuser, said a group of angry residents demonstrating outside the Queenstown magistrate’s court on Monday in solidarity with the survivor.
They handed in a petition to court officials calling for tougher sentences against all perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide.
The adult man in question allegedly raped the girl in her home on August 2.
Her relative, also 14, reportedly caught the suspect in the act and alerted other family members. The alleged rapist fled and changed his clothing, denying he had raped the girl.
He was, however, arrested later. On Monday he sought to be released on bail, but the protesting residents called him a danger to the survivor, the girl who reported him, as well as society at large.
The group urged the court to keep him incarcerated.
Osekho Nqandela of Nokulunga Mercy Victim Empowerment Community Centre, an organisation that raises awareness about violence against women and children, said they were out to fight for the abused girl’s rights. She said the girl was left traumatised, and it had not been the first time the man had sexually assaulted her.
“He did this during Women’s Month and we want the magistrate to hear our demands and refuse bail,” Nqandela said.
Unifound resident Vuyolwethu Mzamo accused men of lacking a conscience while Lungiswa Mayekiso of Khayelitsha called for God to intervene.
A letter accompanying the petition reiterated the call to deny the man bail.
“He is someone that should be trusted by the survivor, but he chose to take advantage of her because he knew she could not protect herself,” the letter read.
They urged the court to send a strong message to would-be abusers. The accused was set to return to court yesterday.