Kimberley man faces fresh rape charges, bail application denied
Douglas Mthukwane.
Image: File picture / Sandi Kwon Hoo
An accused, Douglas Mthukwane, who is facing multiple rape charges, was denied bail after he was slapped with fresh charges of allegedly raping his girlfriend at his residence four weeks ago.
At the time of the commission of the offence, he was released on bail, pending three other rape charges that have yet to be finalised in the Northern Cape High Court.
He appeared in the Kimberley magistrate’s court on August 27 during which his bail application was denied.
His matter was postponed until October 1, when he will appear via an audiovisual recording link.
SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock, stated that the Kimberley SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit was investigating a rape that allegedly occurred on August 1 at approximately 7.30 am at a flat in Beaconsfield, Kimberley.
“The 45-year-old man allegedly raped his 36-year-old girlfriend and assaulted her with a knobkierrie.”
He indicated that the incident was reported on August 12 at the police station, whereupon the suspect was subsequently arrested on August 20.
“He appeared in the Kimberley magistrates' court on August 21, and the case was remanded until October 1. The investigation continues,” Kock added.
National Prosecuting Authority Northern Cape spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the charges were in contravention of the accused's bail conditions.
Closing arguments are scheduled to be heard in the Northern Cape High Court on December 1 for three unrelated charges of rape that were laid against Mthukwane between 2016-2019.
According to the charges, the 14-year-old girl was threatened with a firearm and raped at Mthukwane’s flat after he had offered her a lift to school on May 30, 2016.
On August 20, 2017, he allegedly raped another woman at gunpoint after asking her for directions as she was on her way to a tuck shop.
The third complainant had requested Mthukwane’s assistance in drawing up her curriculum vitae in May 2019.