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Danisa Masuku
A 78-YEAR-OLD MAN from Filabusi in Matabeleland South Province allegedly failed to control his sexual desire and sexually attacked his granddaughter on several occasions at his home.
The 78-year-old elderly man who cannot be named for professional reasons appeared before Filabusi magistrate, Lerato Nyathi facing a rape charge and pleaded not guilty. The accused was represented by his lawyer, Task Vhiki.
In his defence, he said his granddaughter came home late and chased her away. He said he told her to go back to her boyfriend. He also said his granddaughter went to a neighbour’s home and a neighbour influenced her to lie that he raped her. The neighbour accompanied her to a police station to report the matter, he said.
He was granted bail and was remanded out of custody to August 5 to appear at Gwanda regional court. As part of the bail condition, he was ordered not to interfere with State witnesses and was ordered to report to a police station every two weeks. He is also supposed to reside at the address he gave the police.
The court heard that the 78-year-old man would wake up during the night and tip-toe to his 17-year-old granddaughter’s room. It is alleged he would sneak into her blankets and start fondling her breasts and bums.
When the minor asked what he was doing to her it is said he would say he had a right to caress her since he was staying at his home and buying her everything she needed.
On the first occasion after caressing her, he left for his bedroom. But on the second occasion, he allegedly fondled her breasts, after that he allegedly sexually attacked her.
The court heard that the elderly man subjected his granddaughter to the rape ordeal from May this year until July. The matter came to light when the alleged victim went to a nearby village to seek a menial job and revealed the ordeal to her employer that she was raped by her grandfather. After that, the matter was reported to the police leading to his arrest.
Online Reporter