Action Society is outraged that the rapist of Dahlia*, a 19-year-old girl from Harare was granted bail of only R1500. The alleged accused is Dahlia stepfather and the rape occurred in May of 2024.
The Action Society investigation team contacted the victim’s boyfriend who said that Dahlia had been raped. The team immediately advised him to open a rape case at the Harare police station. In addition, he told the team that he had confronted the stepfather who admitted to the crime. The stepfather was arrested soon after the case was opened with the police.
The accused, who is also a pastor, first appeared before the Khayelitsha Magistrates court on 16 May and on 28 May he was released on bail worth R1 500. A new court date is set for 15 August 2024.
“It is an insult to this young woman that her rapist is granted bail at only R1 500. Is that the price of someone’s dignity in South Africa? The perpetrator was in a position of authority as a stepfather and a pastor and he abused that. We will continue to do oversight on this case until he is convicted for his crimes,” said Head of Action Society’s Action Centre, Kaylynn Palm.
Dahlia is pseudonym used to protect the identity of the victim
