A Member of Parliament briefly appeared in the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court on Monday 15 August on charges of rape, assault and using a firearm under the influence of alcohol.
A Member of Parliament briefly appeared in the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court on Monday 15 August on charges of rape, assault and using a firearm under the influence of alcohol.
The 43-year-old COPE MP and Eastern Cape resident, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his accuser, represented himself at the preliminary hearing.
The prosecutor told the court that the alleged incident, which occurred on Friday 12 August, had begun as an argument with the plaintiff and had then escalated to sex without consent.
The accused turned himself over to police two days later and was held overnight before appearing before the magistrate.
According to a report in the Makana Moon online daily, the accused told Magistrate Thembela Mata he would not plead until he had hired a lawyer.
The man requested a low bail amount. The explained that he needed to pay school fees for his two children and provide financial support for his mother.
Mata acknowledged the man’s cooperation with the police, the fact that he had no prior convictions and did not appear to be a flight risk.
The accused was released on R1000 bail.
If convicted of the rape charge, he could face a minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.
The case has been postponed until 11 November.
