KEY POINTS
-
A senior NPA official in Limpopo has been denied bail after being charged with ten counts of rape involving a girl aged 13 to 16.
-
The court cited risks to public safety and witness interference in denying bail, and postponed the case to June 25 for further investigations.
-
The case has raised serious concerns about institutional accountability and the protection of vulnerable minors from abuse by those in power.
A senior official of South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, appeared before the Dzanani Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo on Monday, where he was denied bail on multiple charges of raping a minor over a span of three years.
The 47-year-old NPA official, whose identity remains withheld to protect the underage victim, faces ten counts of rape allegedly committed between 2022 and 2025, beginning when the girl was just 13 years old.
The case came to light after the 16-year-old survivor disclosed the most recent incident of sexual abuse to her mother, who then informed a relative. This led to the official complaint being filed at the Dzanani police station and the suspect’s arrest on April 29, 2025.
NPA Regional Spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi confirmed the timeline, stating:
“This latest incident prompted her to report to the mother, who then notified the uncle, and the matter was then reported to Dzanani police station, and the accused was arrested.”
During the bail hearing, the court stressed the seriousness of the charges and the weight of the evidence gathered so far. In its ruling, the court stated:
“The state has a strong case, and there is a likelihood that the accused can interfere with the state witnesses.”
Court cites potential public disorder against NPA official
The presiding magistrate also expressed concern that releasing the NPA official on bail could compromise public safety and lead to unrest, given the profile of the case and the accused’s position within the justice system.
“The safety of the accused can be compromised, and his release can cause public disorder,” the court noted. “The onus is on the applicant to prove that exceptional circumstances do exist, and that the interests of justice permit the applicant to be released on bail.”
Finding that the accused failed to demonstrate such exceptional grounds, the court dismissed the bail application and remanded him in custody.
The matter has been postponed to June 25, 2025, to allow further investigation, including forensic assessments and the gathering of additional witness statements.
The case has sparked public outcry, given the accused’s role in an institution tasked with upholding justice. Civil society groups have called for the NPA to demonstrate transparency and ensure an impartial internal review of the matter.
