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A placard displayed at a march in solidarity with rape victims at the East London City Hall, Eastern Cape on April 2, 2025.
A family in Alexandra in the North of Johannesburg is living in fear after the father, who allegedly raped his 16-year-old daughter, is harassing them to drop the charges against him.
The 41-year-old man was arrested earlier this year.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says he has abandoned his bail application and was remanded in custody.
The family says the accused has been phoning them, asking them to drop the rape charges.
The teenager’s sister says that since the incident, she has been facing health complications and is not doing well at school.
“We all found out this year in April when my younger sister went to report the matter to the police without telling us. I believed this allegation because he nearly tried it with me when I was living here with them, I just never thought he would do it to his biological daughter. We want justice from all of these as a family. We are scared for our lives. This has damaged my sister’s life. Right now, she cannot even hold her urine.”
Victims urged not to withdraw cases
Meanwhile, the Gauteng Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has made an impassioned plea to victims of crime, particularly gender-based violence, not to withdraw cases against their perpetrators.
It says the growing trend could undermine efforts to fight gender-based violence and hold perpetrators accountable.
Committee Chairperson Bandile Masuku says, according to the police, these withdrawals are largely influenced by monetary offers from perpetrators and pressure from families, urging victims to “resolve matters privately”.
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