During this year’s Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence – from 25 November to 10 December – South Africa’s justice system once again failed the women and children of this country.
A teacher from Mosselbaai who was arrested on nineteen charges including rape, sexual assault and sexual grooming of minors was released on bail of R15 000 yesterday.
The accused indicated in court that he is not a suicide risk because it is a “sin” in his opinion.
This clearly demonstrates the individual’s lack of discernment regarding what constitutes sin seeing as it is also wrong to commit sexual acts with minors.
The FF Plus is of the opinion that there should be a focus on combating crimes against women and children every day of the year, not just sixteen days. A small bail amount such as this does not send a powerful message to the community that violence against women and children is an evil that must be eradicated.
Suspected offenders will hardly be deterred if the penalties or bail conditions are no more than a rap on the knuckles.
According to an article by MedScape (Child Rape in South Africa; 12 December 2023), rape, and particularly the rape of children, is increasing at a shocking rate in South Africa.
The article refers to research by the Institute of Race Relations (IR) which found that more than 52 000 rapes were reported in 2000 and that 40% of the victims were under the age of 18.
In addition, the University of South Africa believes the actual figure may possibly be much closer to 1 million per year. Research indicates that only about one in nine rape cases is reported due to a variety of reasons.
Against this backdrop, bail of just R15 000 is clearly not a deterrent.
Although the FF Plus stands by the principle that someone is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the party believes that the penalties and bail conditions in these kinds of cases ought to be as severe as possible.
So, the party is busy drafting a petition requesting the prosecutor in the aforementioned case to appeal against the bail.
It is time for criminals in South Africa to realise that they will no longer be treated with kid gloves, particularly when it comes to women and children.
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