Parties scuffle outside court where Soweto church leader is appearing

Dobsonville community protest following teenager’s rape.

Members from various political parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), the African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), have clashed outside the Roodepoort Magistrates’ court in Johannesburg, where a church elder appeared for the rape of a 13-year-old girl in Dobsonville, Soweto.

The case has been postponed to next Wednesday.

Some political party members were unhappy about DA Johannesburg Mayoral Candidate Helen Zille’s presence at the court and being interviewed by media houses.

The 58-year-old suspect, who is the victim’s neighbour, faces a rape charge for allegedly raping the teenager on Good Friday.

Hundreds of people, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV) activists, community and political party members, have gathered outside the court, holding placards and chanting songs.

Zille says they are there to show empathy and support to the affected family.

She says, “We decided to come here today to show empathy and support to the mother and the child who has undergone this terrible ordeal. We’re a party to the rule of law; I want justice to take its course; I want all the evidence to be led…I do hope that the police took DNA evidence and the child was treated with some dignity in that ghastly process and that they managed the forensic process properly and did not lose samples and things like that.”

‘HURTFUL AND DISTURBING’

Community leader Mandla Nyaqela says the incident is hurtful and disturbing and has urged the public to refrain from disclosing the rape survivor’s identity.

Nyaqela says, “Very disturbing, painful, especially coming from someone prominent and highly respected in our society, a highly educated economist. We’re all speechless. The community is highly disappointed.”

He says, “ Everyone is mentioning this child’s name publicly. According to the Child Protection Act, if a child is a witness or a victim, we’re not supposed to mention their names in public. So we’d like to appeal to the public to stop mentioning the victim’s name because we’re also putting salt to the victim’s wound.”