A 32-year-old rape suspect abandoned his bail application at the Potchefstroom magistrates’ court on Tuesday. The accused allegedly raped a 17-year-old girl and his own 20-year-old sister on 11 September 2016.
The suspect, who appeared before magistrate Makgaola Foso in a packed courtroom will now appear in the regional court next Monday, 30 July.
Before Tuesday’s proceedings, the Action for Social Justice international, the members of the LGBTIQ (lesbian women, gay men, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer) community, the NW Democratic Alliance and some residents of Greenfield picketed outside the court in support of the victims.
The DA NW leader, Joe McGluwa says the party believes in the Constitution and that the LGBTIQ community’s rights must be upheld and supported.
‘There have been at least five brutal attacks on this community, ranging from rape to murder, in the J.B. Marks area alone in the past two years. We say this must come to a complete stop and that people must respect their rights,’ he pleaded. He said the DA would ask the MEC for community safety to address the rise in LGBTIQ violence as a matter of urgency.
Thabiso Mogapi, the director of Action for Social Justice International, has welcomed the suspect’s decision to abandon bail. ‘If bail had been granted, it would definitely not have been supported by the LGBTIQ community, its allies or partners. We greatly appreciate the support of the Greenfield community, political structures and the NW provincial DA partnership in this case,’ he said.
Photo: Selogile Leshage
Lerato Phalakatshela, the programme manager of Love Not Hate under OUT LGBTI-Wellbeing says they are happy that the case is going to the regional court. ‘It shows that the justice system is serious about, and committed to, dealing with this case. We are pleased with the level of support from the LGBTIQ activists, allies and friends and hope to see this throughout the case,’ she said.
Timeline of violence towards the LGBTIQ community
15 August 2014 – Stoffel Botlhokwane (24) brutally murdered Disebo Gift Makau, a 24-year-old lesbian from Ventersdorp.
Her half-naked body was found in a pool of water. She had been strangled to death with a hosepipe shoved down her throat. Stoffel was sentenced to two life sentences for rape and murder and a further 15 years for theft.
10 November 2015 – Bobby Motlatla, a 35-year-old LGBTIQ music student at NWU Potchefstroom was stabbed multiple times in the back and chest with a sharp object.
His naked body was found in his bedroom. His murderer has not been found to this day.
6 August 2016 – A 16-year-old Gr. 10 learner from Promosa Secondary School, Lesley Makousa, was strangled with a shoelace.
His lifeless body was dumped in desolate bushes in Promosa. His murderer, 31-year-old David Shomolekae was sentenced to life imprisonment on 11 August 2018.
During the trial, the court heard how Shomolekae had confided in his cellmate and admitted to ‘killing a cripple gay boy’.
17 August 2016 – A 38-year-old man allegedly raped a 22-year-old woman from Ventersdorp because she was a lesbian.
In an interview with the Herald, the victim said: ‘I would just like to tell those who are against the LGBTI community that this is how we were born, we did not ask for this.
‘We ask them to accept us for who we are and, if they can find it in their hearts, to accept us, show us support and love.’
8 April 2017 – Three men allegedly dragged a 26-year-old lesbian into the veld near Mohadin where they attacked and raped her.
https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/49560/rape-suspect-arrested-raping-sister-teen-girl/
https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/5484/student-in-woonstel-vermoor-2/
