SGB member accused of raping learner at matric farewell granted bail

An enraged community protested in front of the entrance of the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court as a 56-year-old man accused of raping a matric learner at her matric dance last year was released on bail.

The 22-year-old woman told the News that the incident changed her life completely.

“I am not free, it is hard to heal. I feel like my life has stopped, I can’t even look for a job. I wanted to work for my family but this has stopped it. It is hard to pretend to be fine every day.”

She said that she is going to counselling but what makes her mad is that her attacker is so much older than her and has two children of his own.

“He has caused me so much pain, it is not easy to walk on the street because people say bad things. All I want is justice, I want this man to be punished. He must rot in jail,” she said.

The man who was a member of a school governing body (SGB) was awarded bail on February 25. Two affidavits were presented to the court to decide if the bail should be granted.

Council for the accused read an affidavit in which he confirmed that he was a member of a school’s SGB and a pastor in the community. He is a father of two and had his own business. He has been living in Magaliesburg for the past 20 years and pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.

He claims that on the day of the incident, the learners travelled to Brits where he alleges the victim was drunk and nearly drowned. He alleges he rescued her and she said she forgot her asthma medicine at home. In his affidavit, he said that he and three security personnel took her home adding that she did not want to go home and every time he took her to her house she kept on returning to the school. He claims that she then came to his house and said that she could not get into her own house, she then allegedly asked if she could sleep at his house. He claims she slept in another room and the following morning she woke up and went to school.

An affidavit from the investigating officer was also presented to the court. The investigating officer said in the affidavit that the children went to a matric farewell and the victim was swimming and not feeling well. The accused and another person then allegedly offered to take her home and the victim claims that the accused sat in the back seat with her and on their way back he kept on feeding her alcohol and touching her thighs. Instead of then being dropped off at home the driver then allegedly dropped her and the accused off at a park where the accused allegedly raped her.

The case was then postponed to February 25 for the magistrate to make his decision. On February 25 the magistrate said that it is not the court’s task at this stage to say if the accused is guilty.

The accused was granted bail of R5 000 and has to adhere to strict bail conditions. The accused must have no contact with the complainant directly or indirectly, the accused must reside at his Rustenburg property and not his Magaliesburg property, and he is not allowed to serve as a member of the SGB anymore or perform any pastoral duties in the area where the complainant resides.

The case has been postponed to May 5.