The 40-year-old man charged with the rape of a Bayview teen made his first appearance in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court, on Tuesday, and was remanded into police custody, at Westville Correctional Services, until his formal bail application, this week.
Angry community members gathered outside court to protest against the accused being granted bail and are demanding that the alleged “rapist” be kept imprisoned as he is a threat to all children in their neighbourhood. Carrying placards with messages calling for “no bail”, the community said that they were there to support the victim and his family, while voicing their concerns. According to the boy’s sister, the 13-year-old victim was attacked after he was sent to his neighbour’s house by his mother to fetch an item. He was allegedly lured to a neighbouring flat, tied and raped by a man known to him near his home in the Bayview flats area, on 31 July. The 40-year-old man, who is known to the family for many years and who the boy grew up around, was assaulted by angry members of the community the day after the alleged rape, after the fearful boy revealed to his sister that he had been sexually violated by the man. He was arrested and detained after police arrived during the mob attack, when furious residents broke down the door to the man’s flat and dragged him into the street before assaulting him when news of the rape filtered through the community.
Commander of the Chatsworth SAPS Family Violence, Sexual Offences and Child Protection Unit, Colonel Ellappen, said medical reports indicate that the boy was penetrated, confirming the rape. Bayview Community Policing Forum Chairperson, Brandon Pillay, said: “Our first achievement as a community is that we have come together to give a voice to the victim. We want to send a strong message that any type of abuse and violence against women and children is not accepted and as a community, we will continue to give a voice and support to this young boy, who was violated and hurt in so many ways,” he said. Residents claim that the accused, who lives in close proximity to a local primary school, is well-known and organises annual Christmas and charitable events for children in the neighbourhood. A petition against bail was handed to court officials by community representative, Selvan Govender, on behalf of residents who signed to show support against bail related to violence and rape against children.
