NEWS
Protesters demonstrate over bail for child-rape suspect
May 7 2009



HUNDREDS of protesting community members and their children blocked the street in front of the East London Magistrate's Court yesterday after the court granted bail to the alleged rapist of a toddler.

The group from Duncan Village, transported to court in about 30minibus taxis, waved placards and chanted songs against rape and the release of the alleged rapist before handing over a memorandum.

Their spokesperson, Ncumisa Yoyo , who runs a day care centre in the area, said they had had enough of men raping children and getting away with it.

Yoyo said the protest was over the case of a 21-month-old child who was raped at her home in January. "The suspect is free and walking the streets because he was granted bail by the court" she said.

The baby's mother, who cannot be named, said she had not yet seen the alleged rapist in the streets, but knew that he was out on bail.

"If I were to see him I would kill him with my own bare hands," she said.

The woman said she fell asleep after changing her baby's nappy and putting her to bed next to her after 10pm on January 15 but was woken by dogs barking outside.

Then she heard her child's voice "coming from far calling for me".

"She was not screaming but crying in pain; it was as if she could not scream," she said.

She went to the front room of the shack and found her covered in blood and faeces. The woman also noticed that her door had been broken and her couch covered in blood.

"I screamed as I could not believe what had happened to my child right under my nose in her home. I felt so helpless and useless because I had failed my child."

The mother said: "For the court to release him on bail makes me feel even more like I failed her."

She said the man confessed to his friends in the community and said he was fleeing to Amalinda.

"He told them he had raped a child as small as a puppy and that is how he was arrested in Amalinda."

Yoyo said the alleged rapist was released on R1000 bail after the case's investigating officer failed to attend the bail hearing.

"When the investigating officer was called he said he was attending a training course in Johannesburg on the day of the bail hearing," said Yoyo.

Chief magistrate Valeri Gqiba and East London Police Station commissioner Sandile Hloba accepted the memorandum.

Gqiba said magistrates could not keep suspects in prison when the police were not present to oppose bail.

"The investigating officer should have made arrangements for either the case not to be heard on that date or sent another officer to tell the court why that person should be kept inside," she said. - By SIBONGILE MKANI, Court Reporter


 

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