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The statutory rape case against African National Congress (ANC) councillor Tebogo Sepale has been postponed to 26 June, for further investigation and a possible bail application.
Sepale (43) briefly appeared at the Orkney Magistrate’s Court in North West on Wednesday.
He is accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old and was arrested last week, after a video of the incident circulated on social media.
The accused is facing eleven provisional charges – two for statutory rape, three for the violation of a child with consent, one for manufacturing pornographic material, four for rape and one for sexual intimidation.
ANC North West spokesperson Tumelo Maruping told The Citizen last week that the party was shocked by the actions of its public representative.
“We have also received a number of complaints against the said public representative from various women. We are also aware that one of his victims has opened a case against him.
“Rising from this despicable behaviour, the ANC has suspended the membership with immediate effect and, therefore, he will not be allowed to participate in the movement. This suspension will hold until the outcomes of the disciplinary process,” Maruping said.
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According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Henry Mamothame, the accused appointed a private attorney to represent him in the matter on Wednesday.
Mamothame also revealed that the state is waiting for more details regarding the investigation to possibly add more charges.
“His court appearance emanates from a report by the police indicating that the Klerksdorp Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit was investigating a case of crimen injuria and two separate counts of statutory rape, after they were reported at Kanana Police Station, respectively.”
It was also reported that in one of the cases, the suspect allegedly shared a nude picture of his private parts with the complainant.
In another case involving the same suspect, two counts of statutory rape were laid on Saturday, 6 May 2023, by the parents of two boys aged 15 and 17.
Authorities have urged the public not to share sexual content through any medium as it may compromise the victims and their families, as well as on-going investigations.
The state said it will oppose his bail application.
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