The senior City of Cape Town official and prominent community leader accused of raping and sexually assaulting a Strandfontein girl, 13, will remain in custody pending a bail application on Thursday July 30.
He appeared via camera feed from Pollsmoor Prison at Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on Monday June 29.
His attorney Asghar Mia asked for an earlier date but the magistrate said it was the first available date pending due to the national Covid-19 lockdown.
There are notices all over the court building stating that with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration of the coronavirus pandemic on March 15, in the safety of all court users, only people
actively participating in court proceedings,
including witnesses, accused, applicants and respondents are allowed on the premises until further notice.
The man, who is alleged to have raped the girl, a relative, over a period of three years, was arrested on Friday June 19 (“Residents support raped teen”, Plainsman, June 24).
According to the charge sheet, the rape and sexual assault had started in 2017.
Last week Mitchell’s Plain residents and community leaders rallied support for the girl who has spoken out about being raped.
They stood outside Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on Monday June 22, calling for bail to be denied for the 53-year-old official.