Angry community members of Ward 29 in Pienaar and the ANC are baying for the blood of a 64-year-old rape accused, who had allegedly raped his 13-year-old neighbour.

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This played itself out on Tuesday morning (July 5) outside the KaNyamazane Magistrate’s Court, where the accused in question, who may not be named to protect the victim’s identity, made a brief appearance.

“Let the court give him free bail,” said some members of the community. “We will pay for his bail, even if it is set at R20 000. We want him alive, so we can teach him,” they shouted.

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“Yes, in as much as we don’t want him to be granted bail, a part of us wants him to be given to us so we can deal with him ourselves. The damage he has done to that innocent little girl will remain a permanent scar in her life, while he will be somewhere in jail eating nice food every day. This is the reason why we are boiling with anger today. But we have faith in our justice system and we are hopeful that the courts will make an example out of him,” said an irate community member, Elvis Nkosi.

According to a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, on the day of the incident, May 22, at about 10:00, the girl’s mother had gone to the shops, but decided to turn back home.

“When she got back, she found her daughter in the family’s spare room and suspected something was wrong. She also noticed a cell phone and sandals belonging to her next-door neighbour. She asked her daughter about this, and she confessed to her mother that their neighbour had just raped her, and not for the first time,” said Mohlala.

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He said it is alleged that when the accused heard footsteps outside, he quickly escaped through a window, leaving behind his belongings.

The girl’s ordeal is said to have started early last year. She said she did not report anything, because the suspect had threatened to burn down her house if she ever told anyone.

The suspect had been on the run ever since that day, until he was finally outsmarted by the police on Saturday June 25. He was found hiding in a sangoma’s house.

“It is such an emotional moment for me, but I am relieved that he has finally been arrested. Yes, even though I am happy, my heart is still very sore and will never heal from this. My child is no longer the same. We are all in constant fear, not knowing what the suspect’s family is going to do next,” said the girl’s mother.

The ANC’s Ward 29 member, Mabandla Tsela, expressed his shock and disappointment, also calling for bail not to be granted.
“We will support the family of the victim until this case is finalised. We are calling on all our menfolk to take charge and protect our children and women,” said Tsela.

The Provincial Council of Churches has also condemned the incident and came out in support of the victim’s family.