Latest news with #SexualOffencesandRelatedMattersAmendmentAct32
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
NPA separates cases of couple charged after Eldorado Park girl's death
The case against the parents of a four-year-old girl from Eldorado Park in Soweto, who is the victim of abuse, has been postponed until Monday. Both the father and mother will remain in custody while the state prepares to oppose bail. The four-year-old girl, who is not named to protect the identity of her three-year-old brother, passed away on Friday at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. She was in ICU since August 6 after she was assaulted and nearly drowned, allegedly by her father. Provincial SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo previously confirmed to Soweto Urban News that the initial case docket of attempted murder was changed to murder after her death. According to Soweto Urban News, the father and mother each made a brief, separate appearance at the Protea Magistrate's Court yesterday. The father of the four-year-old is facing five counts: Murder, rape, compelled rape, child abuse, and assault of a minor. The mother, who is reportedly pregnant, is facing a charge of failing to immediately report a sexual offence committed against a minor. The presiding magistrate postponed the matter to allow for a formal bail application. NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane explained to the media outside the court that while both accused were arrested, the NPA decided to separate the two cases. This was due to a lack of evidence that the alleged offences were committed jointly. Cases separated 'Now that we know alleged offences are not intertwined, we then had to separate the two matters for the mother to appear alone as well as the father,' said Mjonondwane. 'With the case against the father, he is now facing five charges, we have added three additional charges to the two that he was facing in his first appearance. While the mother on the second docket is facing the charge of failing to immediately report a sexual offence against a minor.' She added that according to the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act 32 of 2007, one has a duty to report such a crime. Mjonondwane stated that the state will be opposing bail, and reasons will be advanced in court. Calls for justice Bandile Masuku, the chairperson of the portfolio committee, said that committee members were there to pay their respects to the family and community of Eldorado Park. 'This is one of the many [cases] we continually get reported on in the country and it is important that every time we get such cases as a community and legislature we rally behind the fight against women and children abuse,' said Masuku. Eldorado Park ward councillor Juwairiya Kaldine told the media that she believes the country's justice system is failing women and children and that the case should be handled by a female magistrate. 'The government of today sitting in legislature need to relook at the constitution of this country because the constitution we are currently guided by [does] not stand [up] for women and children in this country,' said Kaldine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Eldorado couple faces court for the rape and murder of their four-year-old daughter as NPA plans to oppose bail
A couple appeared before the Protea Magistrates' Court following the rape and death of their four-year-old child. A couple appeared in the Protea Magistrate's Court in Soweto, Johannesburg on Tuesday following the rape and death of their four-year-old daughter. The father was charged with murder, rape, compelled rape, child abuse and assault, whilst the mother of the deceased was charged on a separate docket, with failure to immediately report a sexual offence against a minor child. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, said a neighbour heard the child screaming from the couple's home and, on arrival, found the father allegedly beating the child and captured the incident on a phone. "Following further investigations, the mother was also arrested. It is alleged that the mother knew about the sexual assault but failed to report to the authorities, as per duty in terms of the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act 32 of 2007," said Mjonondwane. According to police, the man was arrested on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 after officers responded to reports of screams coming from a backyard shack. Inside the home, police discovered the young girl with severe head injuries, bruises, and a swollen eye.
