Scholar transport 'rapist' granted bail

COURT angers scholar transport organisations.

The organisations were left frustrated after a Soweto scholar transport driver was granted R10 000 bail in the bail the Protea Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 16 October.

Vuyisile Shabalala (42) faces two counts of rape. He is accused of raping a 10-year-old girl from Naledi, Soweto, on Wednesday, 2 October.

The victim's family and scholar transport organisations said the state and the investigating officer have failed them.

Sbongile Maseko, general secretary of the Greater Joburg Learner Transport Organisation, said: "We're here because one of the drivers, who is not affiliated to any association allegedly, raped a kid.

"He picked up the victim from her home in the morning and took her to his place where he allegedly raped her. We're here to condemn his action. We don't want him to receive bail. He should be locked up."

According to the family, the accused confessed to the alleged crime and cops were called. The driver allegedly offered the victim R6 to buy Panado after dropping her off at school.

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Investigating officer, Malope Radingoane, said the accused was not a flight risk and didn't oppose bail.

She said the accused is married and has four kids. He works as a scholar transport driver and doesn't have a passport. So, there's no way he could skip the country.

Magistrate David Mhango said, based on the facts and the affidavit provided by the investigating officer, the state didn't have a strong case against the accused.

"In the affidavit read to the court, you've stated that you're not guilty of what the court is alleging and have said you still maintain your innocence," he said.

He said whether the victim was raped, or not, is not to be decided by them, but the trialing court.

"The court has decided to grant your bail, you're liable to pay a bail fee of R10 000," said Mhango.