Magistrate cites lax border control for denying Ugandan rape accused bail
CAPE TOWN - A magistrate in the Boksburg court has cited the state of South Africa's borders as one of the reasons to deny bail to a Ugandan national accused of rape.
The 29-year-old man is facing two counts of rape linked to the violation of an 11-year-old girl from Boksburg.
ALSO READ:
The man has denied the crime and had brought a bail application, telling the court that his family and his business needed him to stay afloat.
But magistrate Sipho Manana said the man failed to provide exceptional circumstances for his release, which was a requirement based on the seriousness of the crime.
The accused tried to convince the court that giving his passport to the investigating officer would keep him in the country pending the outcome of the case.
But the magistrate was not sold.
"I know for sure that borders from South Africa and other African neighbouring countries are not that strict. They are not controlled to the strictest condition that one can say for sure that if you do not have a passport, then you cannot evade the country."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Midnight church robbery: Armed assailants steal pastor's Audi SUV and amplifiers
Armed robbers invaded the church in Mpumalanga and got away with the pastor's white Audi Q3 SUV with registration number KFM 302 MP, which the assailants used to flee the scene. Image: File Police at Masoyi, in Mpumalanga, have launched an investigation into a case of business robbery after armed suspects stormed a church during a night prayer service and robbed congregants. Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said the incident happened in Numbi, shortly after midnight on Saturday morning. 'According to information received, congregants were attending an overnight prayer session at The Moving Ministries of God Church in Numbi, when five unknown African males wearing balaclavas entered the church while worshippers were praying,' said Ndubane. The suspects, armed with pistols, threatened the congregants and robbed them of 11 cellphones, two amplifiers, and the pastor's vehicle keys. 'The stolen items were loaded into a white Audi Q3 SUV with registration number KFM 302 MP, which the suspects used to flee the scene. The vehicle has not been recovered at this stage, but tracking efforts are ongoing through the Cartrack company,' said Ndubane. She said no injuries were reported during the incident, and no shots were fired. On Saturday afternoon, police said no arrests had been made. 'Anyone with information that may assist in locating the suspects is urged to contact Detective Captain David Hlatshwayo on 072 233 7530. Alternatively, members of the public can report anonymously via the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or through the My SAPS App,' said Ndubane. Police assured community members that all information received will be treated with strict confidentiality. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Meanwhile, acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, has condemned the incident. 'We grew up knowing that the house of the Lord is a sacred place to be respected. It is deeply concerning that criminals now boldly target churches. We urge congregants to remain vigilant, especially during night gatherings, to ensure their safety and avoid falling victim to such crimes.' [email protected] IOL News
Eyewitness News
13 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Magistrate cites lax border control for denying Ugandan rape accused bail
CAPE TOWN - A magistrate in the Boksburg court has cited the state of South Africa's borders as one of the reasons to deny bail to a Ugandan national accused of rape. The 29-year-old man is facing two counts of rape linked to the violation of an 11-year-old girl from Boksburg. ALSO READ: The man has denied the crime and had brought a bail application, telling the court that his family and his business needed him to stay afloat. But magistrate Sipho Manana said the man failed to provide exceptional circumstances for his release, which was a requirement based on the seriousness of the crime. The accused tried to convince the court that giving his passport to the investigating officer would keep him in the country pending the outcome of the case. But the magistrate was not sold. "I know for sure that borders from South Africa and other African neighbouring countries are not that strict. They are not controlled to the strictest condition that one can say for sure that if you do not have a passport, then you cannot evade the country."
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Eyewitness News
Man (29) accused of raping 11-year-old girl denied bail
JOHANNESBURG - A 29-year-old man accused of the rape of an 11-year-old girl has been denied bail by the Boksburg Magistrates Court. Magistrate Sipho Manana delivered the verdict on Monday afternoon. The man was arrested last month after the child's family discovered that she had been violated and impregnated, allegedly by the man who is a family friend. Applause erupted from a public gallery packed with the victim's supporters from the Ugandan community when Magistrate Manana denied the accused bail. ALSO READ: The court found that the accused failed to prove exceptional circumstances for his release. This was a requirement for his bail in light of the seriousness of the offence. 'The state in this case is not obliged to produce evidence in the true sense. It is enough that the prosecutor has established the presence of a prima facie case against the applicant, which the applicant did not dispute or contradict.' Dressed in a grey Chicago Bulls basketball team hoody with a fresh-looking haircut, the confident-looking accused muttered, 'Thank you, your worship', before making his way back to the holding cells.
