A 39-year-old Plettenberg Bay man, facing 14 charges including grooming, sexual assault and statutory rape, has been denied bail in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court.

He first appeared in court on May 22 and began his bail application on June 2, but yesterday, magistrate Zainunisa Arafdien said that, in terms of the schedule six charges he faces, the applicant needs to provide ‘exceptional circumstances’ to be granted bail.

Arafdien said evidence contained in affidavits by the applicant ‘falls short of establishing exceptional circumstances and therefore bail is denied’, as it would not serve the interests of justice.

Arrest and uncovering of sex ring

At the time of the man’s arrest, Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies told Knysna-Plett Herald that investigations revealed that the man violated two 15-year-old girls in unrelated incidents on May 5 and 6.

“These incidents were reported to police by persons of trust and [the] man was taken into custody,” he said at the time.

Spies indicated that there is more than one case in Plettenberg Bay being investigated by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.

“Furthermore, another case has surfaced and is still under investigation. It is alleged that the man took a group of girls from Plettenberg Bay to Knysna on May 8 where he made inappropriate suggestions to them,” he said.

At the time the man was not processed in connection with this matter.

More charges

In June, NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed to Knysna-Plett Herald that the state amended the charge sheet.

The charges the man now faces include sexual assault (contravention of Section 5 of Act 32/2007); sexual exploitation of children (contravention of Section 17 of Act 32/2007); statutory rape (contravention of Section 15 of Act 32/2007 Consensual Sexual Penetration of Child Under Age of 16 years); and the prevention and combating of the Trafficking in Persons Act 7 of 2013 – Trafficking in Persons.

The case was postponed to August 11 to allow the regional court prosecutor time to screen the charge sheet and the docket.

A regional court date for a hearing will then be set down.