A 39-year-old man accused of sexually abusing three minors appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on November 26 for a formal bail application.

Police searched for the accused on October 13 after he tried to flee when a warrant for his arrest was issued. SAPS spokesperson Captain Mpho Nonyane confirmed that he was later arrested at his home in Kamagugu on November 4. He faces two charges of rape and sexual assault.

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During his bail hearing the investigating officer, detective sergeant Solly Mabuza of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, testified that the oldest of three daughters (11) told her parents about the incidents on September 23. She said that she and her sisters (6) and (4) had been sexually abused by the suspect for quite a while.

The accused was a tenant in the the victims’ home, where the sexual assault allegedly took place. Nonyane confirmed that he had previously been arrested for a similar offense, but the case was later withdrawn.

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GRIP’s Friends of the Court was present in court alongside the victims’ mother, who told Lowvelder that she hopes that justice will prevail.

The matter was postponed to December 9 for continuation of the bail hearing.