Picture: The disgraced ANC councillor, Tebogo Sepale
By OBAKENG MAJE
The rape case against disgraced ANC councillor, Tebogo Sepale (43) has been postponed by the Orkney Magistrate’s Court to 24 November 2023 for judgement on bail application.
Sepale is currently facing 11 charges (two for statutory rape, three for the violation of a child with consent, one for manufacturing pornographic material, four for rape and one for sexual intimidation), but the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Henry Mamothame said, the state may add other charges when the matter goes to a higher court.
“Sepale’s court appearance emanates from a report by the police indicating that, the Klerksdorp Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit was investigating a case of crimen injuria, and two separate counts of statutory rape, after they were reported at Kanana Police Station respectively.
“In one of the cases, the suspect allegedly shared nude pictures with the complainant, in the second and separate case, but involving the same suspect, two counts of statutory rape were laid on Saturday, 06 May 2023, by the parents of two boys aged 15 and 17. He will remain in police custody pending the outcome of his bail application,” he said.
Mamothame further said the state argued strongly against granting the suspended ANC councillor at the Matlosana Local Municipality bail. He added that, the state believes it is in the interest of justice for Sepale to remain in police custody until the completion of the trial.
“He argued that, he suffered from illnesses that require treatment, which he alleges was not provided to him in custody. This was, however, disproved by an official from the correctional facility, indicating that treatment is provided and that the accused would wish to consult with his private doctor, such as being arranged,” said Mamothame.
The state prosecutor, Adv Maria Krause argued that, there were no compelling circumstances to grant the accused bail. Krause said, following the outcome of the bail application, the state will make an application to the Director of Public Prosecutions for the matter to be transferred to a higher court for pre-trial conferencing, as investigations have been completed.