Outrage over bail granted to Cape Town man accused of raping five-year-old great-granddaughter
A mural which raises alarm over child abuse and rape. A Cape Town man has been released on bail after alleging raping his five-year-old great-granddaughter.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Women For Change has expressed outrage after a 62-year-old man accused of raping his five-year-old great-granddaughter is granted bail of R2,000, highlighting failures in the justice system.
Advocacy group Women For Change has expressed absolute outrage following the release of the man on R2,000 bail by the Blue Downs Regional Court, Cape Town. The suspect is accused of repeated rape incidents.
The arrest occurred on 12 December 12, after the child’s mother reported suspicious symptoms. According to police statements, the mother noticed the child was not walking correctly after being left in the great-grandfather’s care.
The five-year-old subsequently disclosed that the suspect had touched her inappropriately and indicated that the abuse had happened multiple times.
A medical examination at a Thuthuzela Care Centre later confirmed the rape of the child.
In a scathing response to the bail decision handed down on December 30, Women For Change labelled the court’s move as "outrageous and unacceptable."
The organisation argues that releasing an accused child rapist for a mere R2,000 forces the survivor to live in a state of constant fear.
"This is not justice; it is a complete failure of our legal system to protect the most vulnerable," the organisation stated.
“Bail decisions like this send a dangerous message: that the safety of children is negotiable, and that perpetrators can walk free while survivors and their families carry the trauma.”
The case has been further complicated by testimony from another family member, who alleged that she was also raped by the suspect three decades ago when she was only eight years old.
Women For Change emphasised that the legal system must stop "normalising" the release of alleged serial rapists. They are demanding survivor-centered justice and bail decisions that prioritse the protection of victims, as outlined in their national petition.
The group pointed to the fact that Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) was officially classified as a National Disaster on November 20 last year. They are now demanding that the justice system treats every decision, particularly regarding bail, with the severity warranted by a national disaster.
The case has been postponed to March 3 to allow for further investigation.