Mandela’s grandson to spend weekend behind bars
Adetokunbo Fakeye with Agency report
Nelson Mandela’s grandson‚ who is accused of raping a 15-year-old girl‚ will spend the weekend behind bars.
According to Sowetan Community newspaper, the 24-year-old would remain behind the bars because, his bail application was postponed to Tuesday‚ August 25‚ when he appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday afternoon.
The late South African leader’s grandson has been held at the Johannesburg prison since his first court appearance on Monday.
The young man‚ whose identity would not be known until he has pleaded to the crimes‚ faces charges of rape‚ attempted rape and sexual assault.
It was reported that he allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl in the bathroom of a restaurant in Greenside‚ Johannesburg‚ earlier this month.
His application to be released on bail was set to be heard on Friday morning but was moved to the afternoon because his defence lawyer‚ Nico Swart‚ said he was still obtaining some sworn statements he needed for the application.
The defence has indicated that it agrees that the alleged offence‚ the rape of a minor‚ is listed in Schedule 6 of the Criminal Procedure Act. Bail is not granted easily in such cases. The accused person must prove that it is in the interests of justice that he be granted bail.
When the case came before Magistrate Pieter du Plessis again on Friday afternoon‚ one statement was still outstanding and Du Plessis also asked for further documents. The application was postponed to Tuesday to obtain these.
The relatives of the accused Ndaba‚ Makaziwe and Ndileka Mandela were seated in the packed courtroom during the proceedings .