City doctor faces rape and sexual assault charges
TWO SEPARATE charges of sexual assault and rape involving two different complainants have been brought against a Kimberley doctor.
Dr Ilunga Kalasa was arrested on August 16 following a rape charge that was laid against him by a 17-year-old patient.
During court proceedings on Monday, it emerged that Kalasa was also charged with sexual assault after he allegedly touched the breasts of another complainant on April 20.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the State had requested that the charges of sexual assault and rape be combined.
Fellow pupils of the 17-year-old victim, community members and members of the Gender Based-Violence, Femicide National Strategic Plan in the Northern Cape protested outside the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Monday, calling for bail to be denied.
The bail hearing proceeded despite the State requesting a postponement as the investigating officer had left before the case was heard.
Kalasa’s legal representative, Kenneth Juries, indicated that he was ready to proceed and read his client’s affidavit into the record.
Juries said that his client was aware that the rape case was a schedule five offence.
It was stated that Kalasa is a 37-year-old Congolese national who resides in Elliot Street in Kimberley.
Juries indicated that Kalasa has a Bachelor of Medicine qualification and is employed as a medical doctor earning a monthly salary of R12,000.
He added that Kalasa has a four-year-old child who lives with his mother.
Juries stated that Kalasa has no pending matters or any previous cases.
Kalasa was arrested on August 16 on a charge of rape.
Juries stated that on the day of the incident, the underage patient came to the surgery complaining of chest pains.
“As he needed to examine the young girl, he asked his receptionist to sit in during the examination as she was a female. When he was done with the examination he informed the receptionist that he was done and she could return to her post. The receptionist left the room and Dr Kalasa went to consult with Dr Nhlapo about his findings and returned to the minor patient with the medication and then proceeded to see her off.“
Juries explained that he was not aware of the sexual assault charges against his client at the time of his arrest.
The case will continue on Wednesday.
