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Clear message

RAPE is a sad reality for too many South African women. It is a scourge of our society that shames us all.

RAPE is a sad reality for too many South African women. It is a scourge of our society that shames us all.

That is why we support the toughest possible sentences for those who terrorise our womenfolk.

That said, nothing justifies false accusation of rape, as in the case of Jacqueline Mashaba, who maliciously accused Rexon Mandela of raping her. Mandela spent eight months behind bars after being denied bail.

He finally saw some justice when the Attridgeville magistrate's court convicted his accuser and sentenced her to three years in jail.

In effect, Mashaba contributed to the backward view that women cry rape when a sexual encounter turns out different to their expectations.

We hope the message is clear: we will not tolerate those who use a serious social concern for their own selfish ends.

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