The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has granted a man aged 43, from Menlo Park, accused of raping a girl child, 8, R3000 bail.
It is alleged that on April 31, 2024, the minor went to her neighbour’s house in Zwaveipoort with the intention to play with her friends. When she arrived, she met with the accused who was also visiting the same house.
The owner of the residence, who is the accused’s family friend, then went out to pick vegetables from the garden and the child was left inside the house with the accused. The minor child then tried to leave the house, however, the accused blocked her way, pushed her inside the house and grabbed her with her leggings then proceeded to insert his thumb in her vagina.
After the incident the minor child left the premises and returned home. A few days later, while the grandmother was bathing the child, she told her what had happened.
NPA regional spokesperson Gauteng Division: Pretoria, Lumka Mahanjana, said a case was opened against the accused on May 13, 2024. The accused handed himself over to the Boschkop police station on August 27.
Mahanjana said through his legal representative, the man asked to be released on R3 000 bail because he is a first-time offender and that he handed himself over to the police which shows his full co-operation with the police.
He also added that if he is denied bail, he will suffer financial loss as his newly opened business will lose customers which will result in him not being able to assist his niece who suffers from Down’s syndrome.
However, State prosecutor Mary Maodi opposed the bail application by handing in a statement written by the investigating officer asking the court to deny bail because the accused might interfere with the investigations and convince the family of the victim to withdraw the charges against him.
Moadi also told the court that the complainant is a minor child who might relive the incident whenever she sees the accused and that will result in her being emotionally unstable.
During bail judgment, Magistrate Mfulwane said that it is in the interest of justice that the accused be granted bail as he is a suitable candidate.
“Therefore, bail was granted on condition that he does not communicate with any witness or victim and refrains from visiting the family friends in Zwaveipoort,” said Mahanjana.
The matter was remanded to September 26.
Meanwhile, a Zimbabwean national, Elizabeth Nyakai Kazembe aged 43, who is a court interpreter at Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court, appeared in the same court on allegations of theft and fraud.
It is alleged that on September 6, 2023, the accused contacted the family of an accused Godfrey Mwashita who was appearing before the Vereeniging Magistrate’s Court on a charge of being illegal in the country. During their telephone conversation, the accused demanded a cash payment of R2000 in order for Mwashita to be released from custody on the same day.
After the request was paid, and Mwashita was not released, the family reported the matter to the prosecutor at the same court. The following day on September 7, a case was opened against the accused, and she was summoned to appear in court.
“During her appearance, she was released on warning and the matter was remanded to 28 October 2024 for contents of the docket and consultation,” said Mahanjana.
The Star