POTCHEFSTROOM – A 56-year-old retired policeman will on Thursday, 08 October 2020 re-appear before the Zeerust Magistrates’ Court on charges of attempted rape, sexual assault, flashing, grooming and possession of pornographic material.
The accused was arrested on Friday, 21 August 2020, in Zeerust for an alleged rape which was allegedly committed in Kroonstad, Free State during a school sport tour in 2015. At the time of the incident, the accused was accompanying his wife, who was the coach during the tournament. The victim, then aged 13, did not disclose the alleged abuse to anyone until August 2020, after attempting to commit suicide. During his treatment, the victim, who is now 18, revealed for the first time that he was allegedly raped by the accused. Thus, a case of rape was reported leading to the arrest and appearance of the accused before the Kroonstad Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 August 2020. The accused was granted R5000.00 bail and his next court appearance in Kroonstad Magistrates’ Court will be on Thursday, 15 October 2020.
After the first victim reported his ordeal, two more victims came forward. The second victim, who is 20 years old, reported that he was a Grade 8 pupil, aged 14, at a local High School in 2014, when the accused whose wife was a teacher at the school, befriended him. The victim was allegedly approached on numerous occasions by the accused who touched him inappropriately and attempted to rape him. The victim reported the incident on Friday, 28 August 2020. During the initial police investigation, a search warrant was obtained to search the accused’s house leading to seizure of pornographic material.
The third victim, aged 39, also reported on Sunday, 30 August 2020 that he was sexually abused by the accused in 1998. The victim, who was 16 years old at the time, alleged that he was followed around by the accused during a house party. The accused ultimately took him into a room, where he was sexually abused.
The suspect appeared in the Zeerust Magistrates’ Court on 4 September 2020 and was granted bail of R15 000.00 during the second court appearance on Wednesday, 09 September 2020.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, congratulated the Investigating Officer, WO Hein Rabe of Lehurutshe Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) for the breakthrough. He also urged victims of crime to speak out in order for justice to be served.
