ANC councillor accused of statutory rape of 12-year-old should be denied bail

10 May 2023

ActionSA calls on the courts to deny bail application for the ANC councillor who is alleged to have committed statutory rape of a 12-year-old girl in Mpumalanga eMalahleni.

The incident allegedly occurred after the councillor visited his friend’s home and drank alcohol on Friday, while at the friend’s house, the councillor made inappropriate sexual comments about the 12-year-old, according to the Mpumalanga Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.

It is reported that the pair then left to go to a nearby tavern. “The girl’s mother had reportedly gone to work; hence the girl and her 26-year-old sister are said to have been temporarily left to stay with their uncle.”

“It is said that while the two buddies were still in the tavern, the councillor sneaked out without telling his friend,” said Mohala.

ActionSA is in contact with SAPS Mpumalanga and its spokesperson and can confirm that the court will hear his bail application on the 12 May 2023.

Rape in South Africa is systemic and endemic. The country’s annual police crime statistics confirm this. There were 42 289 rapes reported in 2019/20, as well as 7 749 sexual assaults in the same financial year. This translates to about 115 rapes a day.

South Africa has one of the highest rape statistics in the world, even higher than some countries at war.

About 150 women report being raped to the police in South Africa daily. Fewer than 30 cases will be prosecuted, and no more than ten will result in a conviction. This translates to an overall conviction rate of 4% – 8% of reported cases, which is a shame.

When nine out of ten reported cases are not prosecuted (and two out of three are not even referred to the prosecutor for a determination), we are faced with a massive systemic failure that needs to be addressed. When the numbers are as substantial as in South Africa, the problem becomes urgent.

ActionSA calls on the court not grant his application because he will intimidate the victim’s family and he is a popular ANC member and a public figure in the community.

Issued by Thoko Mashiane, ActionSA Mpumalanga Provincial Chairperson, 10 May 2023