Outrage over accused's bail
A PRETORIA father is fuming after a man accused of raping and killing his daughter was released on R2,000 bail.
Themba Khumalo's daughter Zanele, 18, was raped and strangled to death at her Garsfontein home, east of Pretoria, in April last year.
On returning from work that day her parents had found her naked body lying face down in her bedroom.
The suspect had pulled the blankets neatly over her body before he disappeared with her pyjamas and gown.
She was five months pregnant at that time.
A man believed to have been her boyfriend at the time of her death appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on charges of murder with aggravating circumstances, among other charges, on Friday.
He had reportedly spent nine days in custody after his arrest on January 18, more than eight months after the incident.
Khumalo described the man's release as a "travesty of justice".
He said "due processes" were not followed in handling the case.
"an identity parade was scheduled to have taken place before the suspect appeared in court," Khumalo said, adding that this never took place.
Witnesses of the crime had come from as far as Free State to take part in the identity parade, much to their disappointment, Khumalo said.
He said in such a serious case granting the suspect bail made it seem as if he "had stolen a loaf of bread in a spaza shop".
Khumalo said it had taken police from Johannesburg to come and crack the case after eight months of poor investigations by his local police station.
The case was immediately solved when Gauteng police commissioner Mzwandile Petros intervened.
Justice Department spokesman Tlali Tlali said: "I am aware of the complaint. I referred the father to the offices of the national director of public prosecution in Pretoria."
National prosecution authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said he was not aware of the merits of the case.
"I am not yet aware surrounding the case, but there might have been a reason why the prosecutors did not oppose bail," Mhaga said.
tpaz
He is presumed innocent before trail. Hence he has bail rights. The family should be happy that at least the case is now moving.DNA, semen evidence should lin.k up the murderer.
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MaLindo
all people suspect of murder and rape should never be given bail till proven not guilty, i understand the pain this father have to still see this man in his face when he will never see his daughter. NxxReport Abuse
TKay
The father is right, people with petty cases are denied bail but rapist and murderers are granted.Report Abuse
sabza007
Babu Khumalo, I feel your pain and anger.Thats why in my area we opted to castrate those found to have raped and murdered their victims or released early after have been convicted. Our government will be barking ''Don't take law into your own hands'' but why is our justice system this week?Report Abuse
Doculam
tpazHe is presumed innocent before trail. Hence he has bail rights. The family should be happy that at least the case is now moving.
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tpaz, also remember that it is the court's responsibility to protect the public, what if he rape and murder someone else while on bail. I am sure he would not be the no 1 suspect, if there are not serious grounds for it. Therefor he is a potential danger to society.
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Sgandy
I have already told God to forgive me..for if any bastard does such to my daughters..I don't care what will def put a bullet or two right through their messed up brains..and do my time with pride for my child..Juju could k!ll for Zuma..but I swear I shall turn into a murderer for my daughters..mxee stru!Report Abuse