The case for sexual crimes against a North West ANC councillor was postponed to November 17 in the Orkney magistrate’s court on Wednesday.
Tebogo Sepale, a councillor in the Matlosana local municipality, faces 11 provisional charges for sex crimes. Of these, two are for statutory rape, three for the violation of a child with consent, one for manufacturing pornographic material, four for rape and one for sexual intimidation.
National Prosecuting Authority’s Henry Mamothame says the state may add more charges when the matter goes to a higher court.
A bail affidavit is set to be prepared by the councillor’s defence attorney and submitted by November 8 in order for the state to prepare its papers in preparation for the bail hearing.
This follows after Sepale previously registered an intention to apply for bail but opted to abandon it, following consultations with his attorney. Sepale, who has since been suspended by the Matlosana council, abandoned his bail application in July.
According to the NPA, he had previously registered an intention to apply for bail following consultations with his attorney.
Mamothame explained: “Subsequent to the bail proceedings, the state will make an application to the Director of Public Prosecutions for the matter to be transferred to a higher court for pretrial conferencing, as investigations have been completed.”
Child Protection Unit
Mamothame said that Sepale’s court appearance emanates from a report by the police indicating that the Klerksdorp Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit was investigating a case of crimen injuria and two separate counts of statutory rape, after they were reported at Kanana police station.
“In one of the cases, the suspect (Sepale) allegedly shared nude pictures with the complainant. In the second and separate case, but involving the same suspect, two counts of statutory rape were laid on Saturday May 6 2023 by the parents of two boys aged 15 and 17. He will remain in police custody pending the outcome of his bail application,”Mamothame said.
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