Case against 40-year-old accused of raping 14-year-old girl postponed

[WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS DETAILS THAT MAY UPSET SENSITIVE READERS]

The criminal case of a 40-year-old man who allegedly raped a minor at Jan Kempdorp in Northern Cape has been postponed to Wednesday, for his bail application and for him to get legal representation.

The accused allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl earlier this month and offered the minor less than R48 to silence her.

Community members who came in their numbers to support the family of the rape survivor say justice must prevail.

“As a rape survivor myself, I understand the pain of that little girl. I am calling on the court not to give him bail. What he did is unforgivable. We have daughters, this is not good,” says one of the community members who attended the court.

“I am calling on the law to take its course. This is not the first time … We are not happy about what happened in our community of Jan Kempdorp. We don’t want to live like this,” says another.

Members of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) who picketed outside Jan Kempdorp Magistrates’ Court in Northern Cape, say the law must not be lenient on perpetrators of rape.

“We, as the ANC, are not happy at all about what happened. He should not be given bail. We want this man to remain behind bars,” says one of them.

“They are protecting this man. This is the third rape case in Jan Kempdorp of girls under 14 years, who were raped. We are not happy at all. Rest assured, we will be mobilising more women to come to Jan Kempdorp Magistrate’s Court,” says another.