LIMPOPO – Angry women from Gogobole village in the Sinthumule area have threatened to take action against a suspected rapist should the court grants him bail.

Singing slogans denouncing men who rape as ‘beasts who must rot in jail’, the women marched and toyi-toyied outside the court with their hands raised in the air.

They carried placards with messages such as ‘No bail for rapists’ and ‘Love them, don’t rape them’.

The protest took place during the court appearance of Fhatuwani Mametja, also known as Vhavesa, at the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate’s Court last week.

Mametja, who faces charges of rape and robbery, was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on May 29.

According to police, the suspect was arrested following an incident that occurred in Gogobole village on March 1.

The victim was asleep in her house with her five-year-old child when the incident took place. It is alleged that the suspect broke into the house during the night.

The victim reportedly heard a noise in the kitchen, but initially ignored it, believing everything was secure because the gate, doors and windows had been locked before she went to bed.

She was then then confronted by an unknown man with a panga standing next to her bed, who ordered her to remain quiet.

The man reportedly raped her and later robbed her of cash and her cellphone.He then ordered her to unlock the door so he could leave the house before fleeing the scene.

The victim later identified the suspect by his nickname, as he is known to live in the same village.

The leader of the protesting women, Mainganya Neluvhola, said they were in court as concerned members of the community. “We are very disturbed that a woman was raped by a man known to her. We are here as angry women to support the victim and her family,” she said.

She added that the women wanted the court to understand their anger. “If the court grants him bail, we will not be responsible for what might happen to him. We are tired of being used as sex toys,” she said.

Neluvhola said the women were deeply concerned about the rising number of crimes committed against women and children. “As women, we cannot sit back as if nothing is happening. We decided to march to show society that we say no to the abuse of women and children,” she said.

She added that although the women were angry, they respected the law. “We went there to make a statement that all rapists belong in prison, but we also respect the law, which says a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” she said.