The case of a man who allegedly raped and murdered a toddler was postponed on 8 February in the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court to 23 March, pending further investigations and possible referral to the South Gauteng High Court due to its seriousness.
The 35-year-old accused was appearing for the third time and did not apply for bail. The case was previously reported on in Alex News last year in Week ending 2 October, Child rape, murder case postponed and 4 November Child rape and murder case, bail denied. During the accused’s previous appearances, protesters called for harsher sentences to be imposed on child rapists and for them to be named and shamed.
Angry protesters stood outside court and carried placards, while others shouted that rapists must rot in jail. Some of the placards read, ‘You hurt a child, you hurt a nation’, ‘Our children are our future. Stop killing them’, ‘What kind of men abuse their children?’ and ‘Tougher and stiffer sentences for rapists’.
The rape allegedly occurred on 26 September at her Sandton workplace of the two-and-a-half-year-old girl’s mother, where the accused worked as a security guard. The accused allegedly threatened to kill the victim’s 14-year-old-sister if she reported him. The child’s mother was not present. The accused is alleged to have told the sister to lie and say the baby had fallen and injured herself, and to put her in nappies to conceal the injuries. The 14-year-old and her parents had to go for trauma counselling.
Seipati Mogorosi, of Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training, said there would be more protests at every hearing. “Also, it’s worrying that, seemingly, a new trend is developing of older men abusing and raping younger children.”
Details: Adapt 011 786 6608.
Related stories:
Child rape case remanded to 29 November
Child rape suspect’s case postponed to 8 December
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