Picture: The rape accused, Kagalelo Setlhare
By REGINALD KANYANE
21 July 2025- A rape case against the accused, Kagalelo Setlhare (45), will resume today at the Taung Magistrate’s Court. Setlhare, who is affectionately known as Starzen, was arrested and charged with rape.
He was granted a R2000 bail.
The North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the complainant was attending a Taung Annual Gospel Music Festival at PH Moeketsi High School in Taung, a few months ago and she went outside the venue to look for her friend. Mokgwabone said Setlhare allegedly grabbed and pulled her to the nearby bushes, where he allegedly assaulted and raped her.
“Although the complainant works at the place in question, she was not on duty on the day of the incident, but attending a gospel festival. The accused appeared before the Taung Magistrate’s Court. He was arrested on Tuesday and charged with rape,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron said it is disillusioned that despite constant talk, there has been no tangible action to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Cameron said the seeming inability and unwillingness to implement strategies is evidenced by the continued non-compliance with the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act.
“Despite the commitment made to the committee in a meeting held on 30 October 2024, there remain a substantial number of administrative and operational non-compliances at police station level. The direct consequence of the non-compliance is that the lives of the victims are endangered.
“It is concerning that of the 243 police stations visited, 60 non-compliance incidents were reported, including the failure to properly record reported incidents, which can be used in a court of law should the need arise,” he said.
Cameron said such records are necessary to ensure effective conviction of GBV crimes and gaps must be eradicated. He said the committee underscored that, while the presentation painted an improvement in certain areas, the reality on the ground is that many victims are still turned away from police stations when reporting GBV or the police do not deliver protection orders within the stipulated timeframes.
“The lack of consequence management within the South African Police Service (SAPS) is the root cause of this inability to change course and to adhere to prescripts. Until the SAPS ensure that errant police officers are held accountable, there will be no change.
“It is still concerning that to this day, there are police stations that do not have Victim-Friendly Rooms (VFR) that enable victims to report crime in a safe and discreet room. The SAPS reported that there are 95 Stations without designated VFR,” said Cameron.
The Guardian 