Rape accused abandons bail bid

Activists and leadership of the Mtwalume Ward 20 Women’s Organisation protested outside the Umzumbe Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday this week demanding that a 46 year old man be denied bail, after he allegedly raped more than five teenage boys in the community.

The man, an ex-convict, was previously sentenced to 35 years for rape in another area where he lived, but has been out on parole since April 2020.

(His name is known to the Herald, but cannot be printed at this stage, due to laws surrounding the protection of minors.)

When he took the stand, he showed no remorse, merely staring at the women carrying the placards in court, and his partner, who was seated silently next to the women.

This was his third appearance for a formal bail application, which he chose to abandon, according to his legal representation.

Nombuso Sibisi, founder of the women’s organisation said she was grateful that investigations on the case are continuing and that he abandoned his bail application, which was accepted by the court. Statements from witnesses are still pending.

Sibisi said in 2020 she was told about a man who was raping boys in the area.

“One of the boys is known to me and when I heard about it I met the family and confirmed it, however a case was not opened as the family feared for their lives. The accused in the matter threatened to kill the boys,” said Sibisi.

She said on the evening of September 9, the accused knocked on her door, asking for one of the boys.

“He demanded that I open up so he could search my house. As a woman, fearing for my life, I opened the door and he looked in all the rooms and found that the teen was not there.

“On the same night I received a call from a friend alerting me that he had been arrested and charged for the rape of the same teen child he was looking for,” Sibisi explained.

She said this has been going on for too long and it was time for the women in the community to voice their concerns and demand that this man not get bail and return to the community, to continue molesting their children.

She questioned why this man, on his release, moved to their community.

“We hope that justice is served, especially for the innocent boys who have had to leave their homes because of this man,” Sibisi concluded.

Investigations are continuing and the man remains in police custody. His next court appearance is on October 18.

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