Fighters against gender-based violence (GBV) breathed a sigh of relief after a man accused of raping a 26-year-old woman was denied bail. The accused rapist appeared at the Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. It is alleged that the victim was raped at a tavern on her birthday on the 20 of September.
She was out socialising at a local pub where the perpetrator dragged her from the premises to an area near the pub where he raped her. The organiser of the march Dolly Majola, said her wish is to see the perpetrator rot in jail.
“The guy must just rot in jail if they continue giving perpetrators freedom the GBV won’t stop. We strongly oppose this application and demand justice for not only this young woman but for the many that went before her. The message has to be cleared. Enough is Enough.” Majola said.
Shantall Ramatsui an activist, fighting against GBV added and urged all business owners such as taverns to show their support for the victim.
“As an activist, fighting against GBV, I call on all business owners of Bars, clubs, taverns and related business to show their support for the woman patrons who frequent their establishments,”
“They must create safe places. I also urge the community to look out for one another. Our communities should never be comfortable spaces for rapists.” Ramatsui said.
Meanwhile the community of Soshanguve has signed the petition of no bail for the accused rapist. More than 300 people have signed the petition thus far in order to get him behind bars.
The signatures were presented to the Investigating Officer. The trial will start on 29 November 2020. The petitions were submitted and made a huge difference. All signatures declared that they opposed bail for the accused.
