Suspect accused of raping autistic woman remains in police custody
The 18-year-old victim is autistic and has allegedly been diagnosed with an intellectual development disability.
A 54-year-old man from Mamelodi West accused of raping an 18-year-old autistic woman will remain in police custody while bail judgment was set for April 29.
The autistic victim rom Mamelodi West has allegedly been diagnosed with an intellectual development disability.
NPA spokesperson Tshepo Molomo said the accused appeared at the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court for a bail hearing on Wednesday, and the matter was remanded for bail judgment.
On April 9, the accused allegedly took the victim to his house while on her way home from school and raped her.
“The accused was officially arrested on April 12, following thorough investigations by the detectives,” said Molomo.
The victim’s mother said her daughter told her about the incident when she came back from work in the evening.
“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,” said the mother.
She said 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 said she was disappointed because the accused was someone she knew from an early age and was not living far from where they grew up.
She said she was emotionally drained because her daughter walked alone to school and walked past the accused’s house every day.
The mother wanted justice for her daughter and pleaded with the court to set an example for the accused.
She added that her daughter has started receiving counselling and she prayed that she would heal from the incident.
Community representative and chairperson of the Concerned Tshwane Liquor Traders Association, Mehlaefane Boxmann Shogole, said they condemned any act of gender-based violence or any kind of abuse.
He said 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,” said Shogole.
“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,” he added.
Ward 67 councillor Lydia Mokgabudi said her heart was heavy about the whole incident.
She said 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 said.
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