Court set to rule on bail for man accused of raping, impregnating 11-year-old girl

WARNING: This story contains details of a distressing nature

JOHANNESBURG - The family of an 11-year-old girl from Boksburg who was raped, allegedly by a 29-year-old family friend, will find out on Thursday morning whether he will be released on bail.

The Boksburg Magistrates Court is expected to hand down its decision on Thursday.

The incident allegedly took place while the girl was visiting the man and his wife, both family friends, during the December holidays.

Her family said that they only became aware of what had happened after discovering that the child was pregnant.

"My child's life is on pause because of what he did. Why can't his life also be paused in jail when we are waiting for DNA."

These were words of the 11-year-old girl’s mother, who told EWN that the child was forced to leave school after she was raped and impregnated, allegedly by the 29-year-old family friend.

The lawyer representing the accused man has sought to discredit the child's version of events, telling the court that she could have made the allegations for ulterior purposes.

They highlighted that the child withheld the information when her mother initially approached her but the investigating officer in the case attributed this to fear and shame.

In the absence of DNA evidence, the court will have to consider all facts before it, as it arrives at a decision on bail.