Johannesburg – A man accused of abusing and keeping his five children and wife captive in his Springs home will appear on Thursday in the Springs Magistrate’s Court.

The 36-year-old, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his family members, was arrested last month.

He faces charges of child abuse, rape, assault, and defeating the ends of justice.

The man was denied bail at the last court proceedings. He later tried to commit suicide by slitting his wrists in his holding cell.

Magistrate Roy le Roux found the man had not come close to convincing the court that it was in the interests of justice to release him on bail.

He had made a false statement that his son was missing, and could be charged with perjury.

“The State has a strong case as far as attempted murder is concerned,” Le Roux said in his ruling.

He was referring to a medical report on one of the man’s children, an 11-year-old boy.

He had numerous bruises and scars, including one on his head, allegedly from being hit with a knobkerrie.

The man was arrested in May after his 11-year-old son fled the family’s house in Springs and ran to a neighbour’s house to beg for help. The neighbour called police.

The man allegedly kept his wife and five children, aged between two and 16, captive in the house for several years and assaulted them.
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