Date set for gang rape trial

The trial of the six men who are being held for the gang rape of a 19-year-old Mary Waters learner has been postponed to 10 September.

The Chief investigating officer Sergeant Mandla Tolkwe for the case said that the postponement was due to the pending results of the DNA analysis.

He predicts that because of the “seriousness” of the case it may be move to the High Court. The suspects have also been accused of stabbing and robbing the survivor’s boyfriend.

The six men had previously been denied bail. The incident occurred in April and triggered a series of demonstrations against the granting of bail for the accused.

“The community must stand together and they must not get bail, because they can do it to other people too, ”an 11-year-old girl said at one of the protests. “It was my cousin who is involved in these things and we don’t want him to get bail because he will do it to us too.”

Samuel Wessels, the principal of Mary Waters, said that the young woman is “doing fairly well” and has “adapted and is going on with her life.”

However, her aunt tells a different story. “When she gets home [from school]she’s really in a terrible state,” she said, “She’s not ready to give a statement yet. Her father tried to take her yesterday but she just cries.”

The aunt says they are grateful for the support the family has received from the community,but was “disappointed” by the lack of support from teachers, because according to her

“No one has attended during the hearings”. The aunt said the case “can even go later, just until she finishes her [matric]exams.” The survivor’s sister, however, lauded the responses from Mary Waters and the community.

Community support
“The school have been very supportive with this whole ordeal. Especially the scholars that supported the protest and the teachers that have organised the protest. [They were all] psychologically supportive towards our family during this difficult time.”

The survivor hasbeen receiving treatment from Fort England Hospital.

“At this stage she is going through psychotherapy,” said her sister, “And she feels comfortable with her psychologist. We appreciate the fact that Fort England were able to help us in this matter.”

Grocott’s Mail reported that a 14-year-old and an 11-year-old were raped in June and July respectively near Mary Waters High School based on information from the SAPF Communications Office, although the police say they have “no record” of the rape of the 14-year-old.

“No one can recall the case,” said Captain Bennie Butler.