There was heavy police presence stationed outside the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning ahead of an appearance of a 20-year-old man accused of raping a six-year-old girl in the bathroom of the Dros restaurant in Silverton. By 7 am, a police car was spotted outside the court.
Tshwane Metro Police officers had blocked off Francis Baard Street, adjacent to the court. Motorists were being instructed to continue straight on Sophie de Bruyn Street.
The arrested suspect, in the case of a rape of a 6 year old at Dros Restaurant, faces charges of rape, possession of drugs, assault with intent to do bodily harm and intimidation.
It is alleged that on the day in question last month he followed the little girl from the play area to the toilets where he then raped her. The girl’s mother caught the man in the act and alerted staff at the restaurant.
Some of the people who responded assaulted the suspect when he was caught pants down. Footage of this was recorded by people present at the time.
Members of several political parties and civil society organisations are expected to protest outside the court on Tuesday after a video of the man in question, naked and bleeding went viral. They are opposing bail.
Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga is expected to also attend the court case.
