WATCH: Rape of 11-year-old – Accused’s bail application to continue tomorrow
As a gesture of solidarity with the victim and her family, a group of community members protested outside the court yesterday, demanding justice for the girl.
The bail application of a 28-year-old man accused of raping a Boksburg child (11), who is now five months pregnant as a result, will continue tomorrow (May 16).
The accused, who may not be identified to protect the minor, made a second appearance in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday (May 14).
He faces a charge of raping a minor.
The man was arrested on April 22 and appeared for the first time in court on April 24, but the court postponed the matter to May 14 for a formal bail application.
As a gesture of solidarity with the victim and her family, a group of community members protested outside the court yesterday, demanding justice for the girl, who the man allegedly raped in December, and when she was six-year-old.
One protester, Linda van Ryneveld, said: “I am also a mother and we are here to support this girl and make it clear that rapists are not welcome in our midst. You cannot rape someone, whether a child or an adult.
“No bail should be granted to someone who rapes.”
Kamya Siraje, a community leader for Ugandans in South Africa, also supported the victim’s family.
“We cannot accept what was done to this 11-year-old girl. It is not only about this girl, who is from Uganda, but every woman in South Africa.
“It is in our authority to protect our children. If someone trusts you to take care of someone’s child, it is your responsibility to protect that child.
“We want to stand hand-in-hand with South African authorities to stop this unnecessary crime.”
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