A prominent Free State businessman and his 25-year-old son were arrested and charged with raping a 16-year-old girl.
Morena Ntsika, a politically connected businessman with close links to the ANC, and his son Bahle, allegedly raped the minor in the presence of her parents. The alleged rape occurred in Ntsika’s house in the affluent suburb of Heuwelsig in Bloemfontein on Friday, August 4. The duo was arrested and spent eight days behind bars.
Ntsika and Bahle were released on R10 000 and R5 000 bail respectively when they appeared in the Bloemfontein magistrate’s court on Wednesday last week. Sunday World understands that the victim’s family opened the case of gang rape at Bayswater police station on August 6, after the child had confided in her friend about the alleged gang rape.
Speaking to this paper, the victim’s mother alleged Ntsika and his son raped her daughter while she and her husband were at his home. According to the mother, who cannot be named, they visited the businessman at his house to seek advice on business opportunities.
“Morena invited us to come to his house to discuss some business matters and other personal issues. I have been confiding in Morena’s wife about some of our personal problems. My husband knew Morena through a mutual friend,” she said.
She alleged the teenage girl was sitting in the lounge with Morena’s son when Morena came through and ordered her to go to the bedroom.
“My daughter told us that she was shocked when she realised that she was being led into the bedroom by Morena and his son … once she entered the bedroom a blanket was thrown on top of her and the lights were switched off. Morena ordered his son to rape my child and he also joined in raping her,” alleges the mother.
The mother alleged that after the incident, her daughter confided in a friend that Ntsika had promised her that his son will marry her and take care of her financially.
“We are hurt and angry and we want the law to take its course as we demand justice for our daughter. Our daughter said that Morena was the one who orchestrated the whole thing.”
The victim’s father also said that the matter was very sensitive to discuss.
“We have left everything in the hands of the authorities. This is a hard thing to live with if you have children, specifically a daughter. This is painful for us to deal with.”
When contacted, Ntsika said: “This matter is in court, and I cannot comment on something that is in court.”
When asked if he had tried to bribe the victim, Ntsika lost his cool and said: “You can write what you like.” Free State National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said: “The NPA opposed the release of the two accused on bail, hence there was a formal application that took three days.
“The magistrate released the father on a bail of R10 000 and the son on R5 000. Conditions are that they must not contact the complainant or her family, directly or indirectly. They must not interfere with the investigation, and they must not threaten state witnesses.
“They were also ordered to hand in their passports to the investigating officer.”
He said the case was postponed to September 27 for further investigations.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
