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Pretoria Court Denies Bail to Tenant Accused of Raping Landlord’s 12-Year-Old Daughter

Published

2 months ago

July 17, 2025

zaghrah

Sourced: News24

A 55-year-old Zimbabwean man will remain behind bars after the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court denied him bail for the alleged rape of his landlord’s 12-year-old daughter. The accused, a tenant in the family’s Saulsville home for over a decade, faces three counts of rape after allegedly assaulting the child and bribing her with pocket money to keep silent.

A Mother’s Gut Instinct Uncovers the Horror

The nightmare began unfolding in late June when the girl’s mother noticed her daughter acting strangely while on the phone. Suspicious, she checked the device and discovered chilling messages—the tenant asking the child about her menstrual cycle.

Confronted in his backyard room, the man denied everything and even suggested a medical examination at Kalafong Hospital. But his plan backfired when nurses, spotting red flags during the exam, alerted police. He was arrested on the spot.

Bail Bid Rejected: “No Proof, No Mercy”

In court, the accused argued for release, claiming:

The state’s case was weak
His detention would leave his wife and six children destitute
As a self-employed man, he needed freedom to earn legal fees

But prosecutor Katlego Manana fired back, highlighting:

The brutality of raping a child he’d known since infancy
His lack of property roots in South Africa, raising flight risks
Atteridgeville’s alarming GBV rates demanding strict precedent

The magistrate agreed, bluntly stating the man provided “no proof of employment or family ties” to justify bail. If he couldn’t afford a lawyer? “Try Legal Aid,” the court retorted.

Community Shock and NPA Applause

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) praised both the mother’s quick thinking and hospital staff’s vigilance. “This bail refusal proves we’ll fight relentlessly to protect children,” said Acting DPP Marika Jansen Van Vuuren.

Meanwhile, Saulsville residents expressed disgust on social media, with many calling for harsher penalties. “How do you live with a family for 12 years and then do this?” one Facebook user demanded. Others urged parents to monitor their children’s interactions with adult tenants more closely.

A Grim Pattern in Pretoria

This case follows another horrific child rape incident in Olievenhoutbosch last year, where a father was convicted of assaulting his 11-month-old baby. The NPA stresses that such crimes often occur within trusted circles—a bitter reality making community vigilance critical.

What’s Next?

The case returns to court on July 23 for regional court allocation. With bail denied, the accused remains incarcerated as prosecutors prepare to argue for the harshest possible sentence.

For now, the message rings clear: South Africa’s courts are taking child rape accusations deadly seriously—and temporary freedom for alleged perpetrators is no longer a given.

If you suspect child abuse: