Senior NPA official denied bail in Limpopo case involving repeated child rape

A senior official from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) accused of child rape will remain in custody after the Dzanani Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo denied his bail application on Monday.

The 47-year-old man, who works in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Limpopo division, faces 10 counts of rape involving a minor.

Rape accused NPA official bail request denied

The court rejected the bail application after determining the accused failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances warranting his release.

Both the accused and the victim remain unnamed to protect the young victim’s identity.

“The state has a strong case, and there is a likelihood that the accused can interfere with state witnesses,” the magistrate stated during the judgment.

“The safety of the accused can be compromised, and his release can cause public disorder.”

According to NPA Regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, the official was arrested on 29 April 2025.

The official’s arrest follows a revelation by the victim, now 16, who disclosed to her mother that she had been sexually assaulted repeatedly since 2022.

The abuse started when the victim was just 13 years old.

“The latest incident prompted her to report to the mother, who then notified the uncle, and the matter was then reported to Dzanani Police Station,” Malabi-Dzhangi explained.

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Legal arguments centred on ‘exceptional circumstances’

During proceedings, the court emphasised that the burden of proof in such serious cases rests entirely with the accused.

“The onus is on the applicant to prove that exceptional circumstances do exist, and that the interests of justice permit the applicant to be released on bail,” the court noted before concluding that the accused had not met this threshold.

The case highlights the strict bail requirements in South Africa for sexual offences involving minors, which fall under Schedule 6 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

The accused will remain in custody until his next court appearance on 25 June 2025, as investigations continue.

Malabi-Dzhangi confirmed that more details would be released as the case progresses through the judicial system.

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