The Pretoria Magistrates Court in Gauteng denied a 19-year-old Zimbabwean national bail who is accused of raping his 10-year-old cousin.  The 10-year-old victim had visited her aunt when the rape happened on 13 April 2024.The mothers of the victim and the accused are siblings.

THE MOTHER REPORTED HER SON

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said that the rape happened when the accused and victim were sleeping together on the floor. "The victim and the accused slept on the floor while the aunt slept on the bed in the same room. At about 23h00, after the aunt switched off the lights, she noticed movement on the floor where the two were sleeping, the aunt then uncovered the two and she saw her son naked and the victim with no underwear. When she asked what was happening, the 10-year-old told her that the accused raped her. The aunt then called the mother of the victim and told her what had happened and reported the matter to the police the following morning. The accused was arrested on 14 April 2024, after he handed himself over in the presence of his mother and the mother of the victim," she said.

FLIGHT RISK

In court, Mahanjana said the accused denied committing the offence and through his legal representative, the accused asked to be released on bail because he is still a school-going learner in grade 11 at a private school. "He also argued that his further incarceration will affect him negatively and he will miss writing his exams and will not be able to continue with his schooling.  He further told the court that he intends to plead not guilty to the charges. However, state prosecutor Chris Maruma opposed the accused release on bail and told the court that the accused was a flight risk because he was illegal in the country. Furthermore, the accused is known to the victim and can therefore influence the victim to withdraw charges," she said. Mahanjana said the magistrate agreed with the state that the accused was a flight risk therefore bail was denied, and the matter was postponed to 03 June 2024 for further investigations.