Two elderly men accused of raping little girls appeared briefly in the Kenton-On-Sea Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The two men, who are between the ages of 60 and 70, were both charged with rape and child molestation after they were accused of sexually violating youngsters who dance on the streets of Kenton-on-Sea.
Police arrested the two last Thursday after eight children between the ages of eight and 12 filed complaints of rape and molestation.
The Daily Dispatch reported yesterday that the two men had allegedly got the girls to undress while they danced in return for food and money.
Four of the victims showed signs of having been raped.
The four are being monitored and have been put on ARV medication. Yesterday the two were denied bail as investigation into the case is still ongoing.
They were not asked to plead and therefore by law may not yet be identified.
One of the accused said he would represent himself in court.
“I am a pensioner, I haven’t got enough money. I will represent myself in court,” he said. He was later advised to use Legal Aid. The second accused, who is in his 60s, told the court he had his own lawyer.
Both cases were postponed to Monday August 15 for a formal bail application.
Outside the courtroom, close to 100 people from different NGOs had gathered to protest, calling for the court not to be lenient when dealing with the case.
Patricia May from Grahamstown’s Voices of Women of Africa said: “They saw that these kids were vulnerable and they took their chance.
“We travelled here to show support to the parents of these victims.
“These people don’t belong in our society,” she added.
Lungiswa Majamani of Masifunde said the rights of the young victims had been violated.
“We are calling for all the silent victims of such crimes to come out and speak out about this abuse.
“We can’t allow women and children be victimised by people who have money because they will hire good lawyers to protect them – we can’t allow that,” said Majamani.
Petros Majola of the Khula Community Development said the police’s sexual offences unit needed to be applauded for acting swiftly.
“The criminal justice system needs to protect these victims now.
“I am shocked to see these old men in court today accused of committing such a crime.
“You could see that one is unable to walk properly, yet they know how to victimise kids as young as eight years old,” said Majola.
The two were held in custody. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Child rape accused two appear in court
The two men, who are between the ages of 60 and 70, were both charged with rape and child molestation after they were accused of sexually violating youngsters who dance on the streets of Kenton-on-Sea.
Police arrested the two last Thursday after eight children between the ages of eight and 12 filed complaints of rape and molestation.
The Daily Dispatch reported yesterday that the two men had allegedly got the girls to undress while they danced in return for food and money.
Four of the victims showed signs of having been raped.
The four are being monitored and have been put on ARV medication. Yesterday the two were denied bail as investigation into the case is still ongoing.
They were not asked to plead and therefore by law may not yet be identified.
One of the accused said he would represent himself in court.
“I am a pensioner, I haven’t got enough money. I will represent myself in court,” he said. He was later advised to use Legal Aid. The second accused, who is in his 60s, told the court he had his own lawyer.
Both cases were postponed to Monday August 15 for a formal bail application.
Outside the courtroom, close to 100 people from different NGOs had gathered to protest, calling for the court not to be lenient when dealing with the case.
Patricia May from Grahamstown’s Voices of Women of Africa said: “They saw that these kids were vulnerable and they took their chance.
“We travelled here to show support to the parents of these victims.
“These people don’t belong in our society,” she added.
Lungiswa Majamani of Masifunde said the rights of the young victims had been violated.
“We are calling for all the silent victims of such crimes to come out and speak out about this abuse.
“We can’t allow women and children be victimised by people who have money because they will hire good lawyers to protect them – we can’t allow that,” said Majamani.
Petros Majola of the Khula Community Development said the police’s sexual offences unit needed to be applauded for acting swiftly.
“The criminal justice system needs to protect these victims now.
“I am shocked to see these old men in court today accused of committing such a crime.
“You could see that one is unable to walk properly, yet they know how to victimise kids as young as eight years old,” said Majola.
The two were held in custody. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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