Child rape suspect’s case postponed to 8 December
ALEXANDRA – Protesters gather, demonstrate at court against rape accused.
Protesters comprising community activists, NPOs, ANC youth and women’s league members and traditional healers packed the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court and demonstrated outside the hearing of a child rape case.
The case was remanded to 8 December to enable further investigation and the 34-year-old suspect remains in custody.
The case, first reported in the article A life lost, Week ending 8 November, involves the rape of a two-and-half-year-old child who subsequently died from the ordeal. The incident occurred at about midday on 22 September at a Sandton residence where the toddler lived with her mother, who is a domestic worker, and a 14-year-old sister. The suspect was a security guard at the residence.
The sister witnessed the incident and was allegedly threatened by the suspect not to report the incident or he would kill her. He further ordered the sister to put a nappy on the victim and to lie that she had died from injuries sustained in a fall.
The protesters expressed their revulsion of this incident and displayed placards denouncing any form of child and women abuse. Catherine Mochaki of Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training alleged that instead of protecting the innocent child, the suspect robbed her of her life, left the sister shocked and still traumatised. She and her parents are receiving trauma counselling. “He deserves to rot in jail and, shouldn’t be granted bail as he is a risk to the sister’s life and other women in general,” Mochaki claimed.
Xolile Nxumalo of the youth league said the suspect’s action was evil, shameful, sickening and sent the wrong message to boys and men that girls and women can be abused and used to meet their warped and demented needs. “Men should be vocal against this abuse to redeem their name,” said Nxumalo.
“Churches, community organisations and families should pray against this vile deed and exorcise it from our doorsteps before it normalises in our society.” She urged the youth, as prospective mothers and fathers, to say no to all forms of abuse in their lifetime and for boys to report all cases of abuse.
Sydney Mathebula of the Alex Healers Association said rape was unethical and an epidemic to be stopped through the collaboration of all in society, including the justice system. “Rape is a serious criminal act and perpetrators shouldn’t be granted bail or released on technicalities,” he said.
“They commit rape while in a stable mental state and so should be fit to stand trial.” He urged healers not to treat those who sought help to protect them from this and other crimes.
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