Autistic Gauteng girl’s rape: Suspect remains in police custody

A 54-year-old man from Mamelodi West (a township northeast of Pretoria) accused of raping an 18-year-old autistic girl will remain in police custody as bail judgment was set for Monday.

NPA spokesperson Tshepo Molomo says the accused appeared in the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court for a bail hearing yesterday, and the matter was remanded for bail judgment.

The incident

On April 9, the accused reportedly took the victim to his house while on her way home from school, and he allegedly raped her.

“The accused was officially arrested on April 12, following thorough investigations by the detectives,” says Molomo.

The victim’s mother adds her daughter told her about the incident in the evening, when she came back from work.

“I called his [the victim’s] brother and asked her to repeat what she said to me. She repeated the same words: The accused grabbed her by force, dragged her to his house, and raped her. We went to the accused’s house with my daughter, which she identified as the place where it happened,” says the mother.

She adds they did not approach the accused but went to a family member instead who stays not far from the accused’s house. The family members advised them to open a case at the Mamelodi West Police Station.

The mother says she is disappointed because the accused is someone she knows from an early age and was not living far from where they grew up.

She says she is emotionally drained because her daughter walks alone to school and walks past the accused’s house every day.

The mother wants justice for her daughter and pleads with the court to set an example with the accused. She adds her daughter has started receiving counselling and she prayed that she would heal from the incident.

Community speaks out

Community representative and chairperson of the Concerned Tshwane Liquor Traders Association, Mehlaefane Boxmann Shogole, says they condemn any act of gender-based violence (GBV) or any kind of abuse.

He adds they heard about the incident at a community meeting, and took it upon themselves to support the family.

“The community members also signed a petition for the court not to grant the accused bail. We want to raise awareness about GBV or any kind of abuse within our community and encourage the public to break the silence and talk about these issues,” says Shogole.

Ward 67 councillor Lydia Mokgabudi adds her heart is heavy about the whole incident.

She says more people need to start talking about this issue. “The child is autistic, and we don’t know how it has affected her. Therefore, we are pleading with the court not to grant the accused bail until justice prevails for the family of the victim,” she urges.