Hammanskraal community policing forum (CPF) chairperson Elias Sebanda, who stands accused of multiple rapes, has been denied bail by the Moretele Magistrate’s Court in North West province.
On Thursday, magistrate Lizelle van Zyl dismissed Sebanda’s formal bail application, citing that he has not shown any exceptional circumstances why he should be granted bail.
Sebanda (43) is charged with four counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping and three counts of robbery. The charges are in relation to rapes he allegedly committed between December 2021 and February 2022.
Sebanda was arrested on July 10 2025.
State opposed bail
He brought a formal bail application last Thursday at the Moretele Magistrate’s Court. The state opposed his bail application. Investigating officer in the case, Warrant Officer Refilwe Tladi, testified on behalf of the state.
During court proceedings on Thursday, the state and defence began with their arguments regarding Sebanda’s bail application.
Sebanda’s lawyer, Adv. Mapona, said Sebanda should be granted bail because he has a mother and two children whom he is financially supporting.
Mapona said Sebanda’s mother is very sick, and he needs to take her for her regular check-ups at her nearest medical facility.
“The accused has no previous convictions, no pending cases and no warrants of arrest. The state witnesses are not known to him. He cannot intimidate people he does not know. He should be granted bail,” said Mapona.
State prosecutor Sharon Nkadimeng said Sebanda is linked to the four rapes through DNA evidence. She added that the state has a strong case against him.
No exceptional circumstances for bail
Van Zyl said Sebanda’s argument that he should be granted bail so that he can take care of his mother and children is not an exceptional circumstance.
“All of us have family members that we need to take care of,” said Van Zyl.
She said Sebanda’s argument that he is HIV-positive and should be granted bail so that he can get proper medication is not an exceptional circumstance.
Van Zyl said Sebanda can be treated for his medical condition in prison. Medication can be provided for him while he is in prison, she added.
“The state has a strong case against the accused. He has not shown any exceptional circumstances for bail. The community of Hammanskraal brought a petition to court opposing his release on bail. The community said it feels betrayed by the accused.
“The court needs to look at the safety of the community… The accused is the head of the CPF and might use his position to influence witnesses… Bail is therefore denied,” said Van Zyl.
Case postponed to October
She postponed the matter to October 9, 2025, for further investigation.
Sebanda remains in police custody.
The accused became Hammanskraal CPF chairperson in 2020.
According to the police docket, Sebanda allegedly committed his rapes starting on December 10 2021. He committed this offence in Bosplaas, near Hammanskraal. On January 29 2022 he committed another rape in Danhouse, near Hammanskraal. On February 5 2022 he committed another rape in Bosplaas. And another one on February 15 2022 in Cyferskuil, near Hammanskraal.
During the time of the rape incidents, Sebanda’s alleged four rape victims were aged 16, 17, 19 and 25.
Accosted victims at night at gunpoint
According to the docket, Sebanda would allegedly accost his victims in the evening, around 8.30pm, at gunpoint. He would then take them to a nearby veld, where he would force them to undress. The accused would then take pictures of them before raping them.
Before releasing his victims, he would threaten that if they told anyone about what he did, he would post their naked pictures on Facebook.
During his arrest in July this year, police discovered Sebanda had a valid licence to possess a firearm. But when he was asked to produce the weapon, he alleged he no longer had it.
During his bail application last week, Sebanda told the court that he has been living with HIV since 2016. The state only became aware of this fact last Thursday.
