Joburg matric, 18, charged for rape at top Durban hotel

AN 18-YEAR-OLD matric pupil from one of Johannesburg’s elite private schools took to the dock in the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday, facing rape charges after celebrations in uMhlanga.

The teenager allegedly raped an 18-year-old woman who was known to him.

The rape was said to have taken place at a popular uMhlanga hotel on Monday. The hotel is usually booked out by matrics for accommodation at this time of year. The teenager was arrested on Wednesday.

The pupil, who may not be named until he pleads, was granted bail of R3 000.

uMhlanga and Ballito are popular party spots in KZN where thousands of matrics from around the country descend to celebrate the end of their schooling careers by partying at events held under the Rage Festival banner.

It is alleged the rape did not occur at a Rage Festival event, but in the teenager’s hotel room.

In court

yesterday,

it emerged he had invited the woman to his hotel room.

“We had been talking for about three years, I know her,” he told magistrate Mohamed Motala.

With little detail emerging in court of what transpired during the incident, it was stated that the woman had not been receptive to his advances and he had forced himself on her

For his bail application the teenager submitted an affidavit outlining his need to return home, to Randburg, to be able to apply to several different universities for his tertiary studies next year.

“My step-dad is terminally ill and I help to transport him to hospital, or babysit my little brother if my mother goes to the hospital,” he said.

Motala said the teenager seemed to come from a stable background with responsibilities and granted him bail of R3 000, to reappear in court in February.

He also warned the teenager to make no contact with the woman, either physically, by texts or on social media.

While the parties

in uMhlanga officially ended last night, police were still investigating.

KZN SAPS spokesperson Colonel Thulani Zwane confirmed that a case of rape was being investigated.

Darren Sandras, speaking on behalf of Rage Festival organisers, said: “We have been made aware of an alleged incident at a hotel in uMhlanga that involved an 18-year-old woman and an 18-year-old man.

“We take the safety of all festival-goers very seriously and we do not condone any acts of sexual violence whatsoever. We urge the media and public to reserve comment until a legal outcome has been reached through due process.”

Paul Rowney, spokesman for the Red Frogs, an organisation that supports young adults, said they had been at the Rage Festival to offer services such as advice and basics such as water to party-goers.

“We stand alongside the organisers and the authorities in their investigations, and we urge young people to take care of themselves; we offer support in whichever way we can,” he said.