PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A Kwanokuthula man accused of sexually violating a nine-year-old girl is scheduled to reappear in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court on Friday 14 August for a formal bail application.
The man was arrested on 19 July, the day after the alleged incident occurred. He is alleged to be the boyfriend of the child’s aunt.
According to information provided to the paper, the child had been staying with family in George and was visiting relatives in Kwanokuthula during the school holidays when the alleged incident occurred. A community member subsequently assisted in taking the child to the police station to report the matter.
The Southern Cape Police’s spokesperson, Warrant Officer Chris Spies, confirmed that the George Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit is investigating a case of rape and displaying or causing the display or exposure of pornography to a child following an alleged incident in Kwanokuthula on 18 July.
“It is alleged that the nine-year-old girl was with the man when he exposed the girl to pornographic content and violated her,” Spies said.
According to the police, the matter was reported and an investigation commenced, resulting in the arrest.
The mother of the nine-year-old said the child had received medical attention following the alleged incident and that emotional support and counselling would be important.
Spies confirmed that the investigation is continuing.
Bail application
The accused made his first appearance in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate’s Court on 21 July and was remanded in custody pending further investigation and a formal bail application.
The State indicated during the proceedings that, should bail be granted, it would seek a condition preventing the accused from entering the community where the alleged offence occurred.
The bail proceedings were subsequently postponed and the accused is now scheduled to return to court this Friday. The accused remains in custody pending the bail proceedings.
A petition calling for the accused to be denied bail has since been signed by community members, according to information provided to Knysna-Plett Herald.
Further allegations
Allegations involving the man have also been made by the girl’s 17-year-old cousin, who is said to have previously accused him of inappropriate sexual conduct.
According to the account she provided, the accused began residing with the family when she was about six. She alleged that, when she was 13, he began touching her inappropriately and making unwanted advances towards her.
She reportedly informed her mother about the alleged conduct at the time, but the man denied the allegations.
The teenager also alleged that the man had previously attempted to sexually assault her, and that another family member had allegedly been the subject of an attempted sexual assault.
These additional allegations have also not been confirmed by the police as separate criminal charges and are therefore reported as allegations.
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