THE trial of a local community leader accused of raping a schoolgirl in January began in the Richards Bay Regional Court on Tuesday.
Dumisani Ndlazi (35) was charged in January for the rape of a 19-year-old who he allegedly promised to help secure enrollment at a local high school, and raped at his Aquadene home.
Two witnesses testified in court and the matter was postponed to the 3 October for continuation of the trial.
It is believed the victim’s family had approached the accused, who was an Aquadene ward committee member, to request assistance with an enrollment application at a local high school.
The victim and her relative visited the accused at his house to deliver the relevant documents and he asked them to deliver the outstanding information the following day.
When the complainant when to his house on the 14 January at about 7.30am, the accused invited her in and raped her.
The young woman had relocated from Johannesburg and needed to secure place at a school at the beginning of the year.
