A man accused of raping two boys in the informal settlement of Zolani was denied bail by the Grahamstown
Magistrate’s Court when he appeared for his bail application on Monday.
Mzuxolile Sam (20), has been accused of raping two boys aged 13 and nine at their home in the early hours of Saturday 6 March.
A man accused of raping two boys in the informal settlement of Zolani was denied bail by the Grahamstown
Magistrate’s Court when he appeared for his bail application on Monday.
Mzuxolile Sam (20), has been accused of raping two boys aged 13 and nine at their home in the early hours of Saturday 6 March.
He allgedly broke into the house and forcefully sodomised the two boys, who are cousins, while they were asleep.
The accused also faces a charge of theft after he stole the cellphone of the mother of one of the victims. He says he is planning to plead not guilty.
Magistrate Nicola Redpath said some of the reasons for denying bail was that there was a concern by the investigating officer Detective Inspector Kwezi Ganda that there was a likelihood that the accused may intimidate the victims and witnesses.
She said that not enough reasons were given by the defence to grant bail. In her testimony in court, Ganda said police were informed that the the brother of the accused had threatened the mother of the victims.
She added that the victims and the accused lived in the same area. Ganda said all other police investigations were complete except for the results of the DNA evidence, and a statement from one other witness.
“We are in a process of sending blood samples for DNA tests, and we will await the result,” she said. The case was remanded until April 15 for futher investigation.
Also present at court was the mother of one of the alleged victims as well as relatives and friends who were satified by the court’s decision.
One of the residents, Zilindile Nxakana said “We are happy with the decision. At least we won’t have to see the suspect every day in the township.
I don’t know what would have happened if the decision was the other way round,” said the relieved Nxakana.
