AfriForum to prosecute ‘prominent businessman’ for rape
Lobby group AfriForum has announced its intention to privately prosecute a prominent businessman who allegedly raped his then 3-year-old granddaughter in 2016.
AfriForum briefed media at its headquarters in Pretoria on Thursday.
It described the culprit as a respected businessman in the financial sector.
Advocate Gerrie Nel says the 3-year-old victim reported the incident to her mother, teacher and psychologist but the witnesses were intimidated by the father and grandfather.
"Imagine for yourself that you are sexually abused in your grandfather's house when you're 3-years-old. You make this report to your mother and father. Your father first confirms this report but later denies this.
"A psychologist in a psycho-legal report confirms the sexual assault, and what happens to her? She gets threatened by the father, the father tells her ‘you will rue the day you have ever met us’.
"Your life will never be the same because of what you said in the psycho-legal report.
“A teacher confirms the report, phones your mother, what does the accused do? He visits the school and demands that the teacher be fired," says Nel.
AfriForum says the police and the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) needs to take responsibility “for dropping the ball”.
"When the applicant first approached our offices and told us the facts, we were astonished that the police had failed to take a statement from the important independent witnesses: that is the school teacher and the psychologist. We were also astonished that detective had not taken steps to secure cell phone evidence. In fact the SAPS closed the docket after a month," Nel adds.
Reports by Nel also show that the victim, who is now 5-years-old, lives with her grandfather while the father is away on business.
The mother of the child has little access to the child.
"As we speak the mother has limited access to her daughter. She can see her daughter for an hour every two weeks.”
AfriForum will proceed with the prosecution once the relevant certificate has been granted.
“We have applied for a certificate and we know it will be a very difficult matter, but certainly if we received the certificate we will consult with all witnesses. We will ensure that the victim in this matter can get somebody who can consult with her so we can get her version. We are very concerned,” Nel says.