The allegation that a 29-year-old man accused of raping an eight-year-old girl in Clermont, Durban, violated his bail conditions will be addressed by the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court today.

According to Highway Mail, the man was re-arrested in the passageway of the court precinct while waiting for his appearance on Friday – an act met with visible disatisfaction from people who had gathered in support of the child and her mother, who was allegedly sworn at by the accused.

The presiding officer said the rape suspect had been re-arrested and placed in the holding cells because the investigating officer was informed that he allegedly violated bail by being in Clermont instead of KwaDabeka, and by allegedly confronting the child’s mother. The man was kept in custody.

A person close to the child’s family, who asked not to be named, said the child is healing but is triggered by the sight of the suspect and his sibling.

The matter has united community members, some of who belong to different political organisations, to rally behind the child and her mother.

After proceedings on Friday, the co-ordinator of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party Women’s League in the Archie Gumede zone, Lethiwe Ngcobo, thanked supporters outside court for their presence.

In previous weeks, demonstrators in ANC regalia protested outside court over concerns that the case may not be successfully prosecuted due to being bungled.

One of the league’s leaders, Nonhlanhla Khoza, had previously said: “We are here to complain as mothers that a person who raped an eight-year-old child, how did they get bail? And once they have been granted bail, there are no follow-ups, nothing is being done about the allegations that the child’s mother is being sworn at by the suspect.”

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