Matlosana local municipality’s rape accused councillor Tebogo Sepale abandoned bail when he appeared in the Orkney magistrate’s court recently.
Sepale was due to apply for bail, however, he thought otherwise following a consultation with his attorney.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the state is awaiting the conclusion of investigations to possibly add more charges against the accused in preparation for trial.
NPA spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the 43-year-old ANC councillor, who is also a pastor, faces 11 provisional charges. Two of these are for statutory rape, three for violation of a child with consent, one for manufacturing pornographic material, four for rape, and one for sexual intimidation.
“His 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, respectively,” said Mamothame.
In May 2023, parents of two boys aged 15 and 17 laid charges of statutory rape against the suspect, who allegedly shared nude pictures with a complainant in the second and separate case.
Sepale’s case has been postponed to August 24 for further investigations and he will remain in police custody until then.
In June, the ANC caucus chief whip Khaya Ndincede confirmed that Sepale was getting his salary while in prison.
He said this will continue until both processes of the municipality and ANC, which deployed him to the municipality, have been finalised.
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. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here.
