KABOKWENI – Angry community members joined hands on Monday to oppose the bail application of Malibongwe Jele (22) who is allegedly to be facing 7 cases, one of rape, robbery using firearm and burglary.
Jele and his friends were arrested following information by the police that they were wanted, after Mpumalanga News ran the story of the three young men terrorizing the entire community.
The 22-year-old was arrested at Lihawu business centre at around 5pm, after he committed several cases of crime in and around Kabokweni.
Cases of rape, robbery using a fire-arm and suspected to be the master-mind behind housebreakings.
Jele would allegedly prey on people who come back late from work and rob them of their bags, cell phones and money at gun-point. According to Simanga Malatjie, the organizer of this picket, they want to send a message that real men don’t rape, “We as the men of this community, have the responsibility to protect all children and women of this area and not hurt them. What this guy has done to the 19-year-old girl is unforgiveable. It is believed that the girl was still a virgin when Jele raped her in September.The community has learnt that his friends are out on bail, and they feel that if the accused will be released, crime will again be high because since his arrest, crime in the community has decreased. He will disturb the entire community again.
“We as the community will respect the court’s decision if he is given bail, but we will not stop fighting against rapists in this community,” he said.
The community intends on making awareness to the community members to report such cases and not let them be a matter of discussion between families. He added that as a community, they face a huge challenge of which people dont report cases. “We would like to urge everyone who has been abused, to come forward and report the matter to the police so they can be able to arrest the perpetrators who are busy abusing innocent women and children,” he said.
Jele will appear again in court for bail application on November 28.
