An alleged child rapist and a man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death with a screwdriver both abandoned bail applications yesterday after 100 angry Port Alfred residents gathered outside court to protest violence against women and children.
News that alleged murderer Phumlani Mamani, 28, and the 43-year-old stepfather of an 11-year-old girl, who was allegedly repeatedly raped and had to have an abortion, would not be applying for bail was greeted with enthusiasm by protesters.
Protest organiser Nollie Mani told the Daily Dispatch they would picket outside the court when both men appeared again on April 28.
“We have had enough of rape and violence against women. Every weekend women are being raped.”
She said it was unacceptable that there was an average of 12 rapes a month in such a small community.
Although police spokesman Lieutenant Luvuyo Mjekula, who was at court, declined to release rape statistics, he confirmed it was a huge problem in the area.
Mamani allegedly abducted his estranged girlfriend, Thabisa Ncini, 31, off the streets of Nelson Mandela Township (Nemato) two weeks ago while she was walking with her two brothers – despite a protection order issued by the courts.
He allegedly took her to a nearby stream where he stabbed her to death with a screwdriver.
The alleged child rapist, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his stepdaughter, is accused of repeatedly raping her. The child had to have an abortion when it was discovered she was five months pregnant.
Legal Aid Board attorney Hombisa Mdolomba confirmed to magistrate Xolile Dlulisa during separate, brief appearances that both men had abandoned their bail applications.
She did not give reasons why they would no longer be applying for bail.
Dlulisa postponed both cases to April 28 for further investigation while police awaited DNA results.
Mani, who is a community development officer in the Ndlambe municipality, yesterday blamed alcohol and drug abuse for the high incidence of rape and violence against women and children. She said the problem could be solved if the community rallied together to stamp out drug and alcohol abuse.
Two abandon bail bids after protests at court
News that alleged murderer Phumlani Mamani, 28, and the 43-year-old stepfather of an 11-year-old girl, who was allegedly repeatedly raped and had to have an abortion, would not be applying for bail was greeted with enthusiasm by protesters.
Protest organiser Nollie Mani told the Daily Dispatch they would picket outside the court when both men appeared again on April 28.
“We have had enough of rape and violence against women. Every weekend women are being raped.”
She said it was unacceptable that there was an average of 12 rapes a month in such a small community.
Although police spokesman Lieutenant Luvuyo Mjekula, who was at court, declined to release rape statistics, he confirmed it was a huge problem in the area.
Mamani allegedly abducted his estranged girlfriend, Thabisa Ncini, 31, off the streets of Nelson Mandela Township (Nemato) two weeks ago while she was walking with her two brothers – despite a protection order issued by the courts.
He allegedly took her to a nearby stream where he stabbed her to death with a screwdriver.
The alleged child rapist, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his stepdaughter, is accused of repeatedly raping her. The child had to have an abortion when it was discovered she was five months pregnant.
Legal Aid Board attorney Hombisa Mdolomba confirmed to magistrate Xolile Dlulisa during separate, brief appearances that both men had abandoned their bail applications.
She did not give reasons why they would no longer be applying for bail.
Dlulisa postponed both cases to April 28 for further investigation while police awaited DNA results.
Mani, who is a community development officer in the Ndlambe municipality, yesterday blamed alcohol and drug abuse for the high incidence of rape and violence against women and children. She said the problem could be solved if the community rallied together to stamp out drug and alcohol abuse.
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