A 26-year-old black woman from Thaba Nchu, who was allegedly raped by a white man in Ladybrand in 2022, feels let down by the Ladybrand Magistrates Court after a white female prosecutor withdrew her case without informing her.
The Free State World first reported the story in March, highlighting that the investigating officer handling her case did not brief her or alert her about the provisional withdrawal of her case.
The victim, whose name is known to Free State World, stated that she and her husband were the only ones consistently inquiring about the progress of the case. She expressed her shock upon discovering in April that her case had been withdrawn without her knowledge.
The victim further noted that some information in her case docket was incorrect, and she felt deeply hurt to learn about the withdrawal without being informed. The victim described the prolonged uncertainty as emotionally taxing, wondering if she would ever achieve justice.
She fears that authorities might be neglecting or dismissing her case. According to her and her husband, they only learned about the case’s withdrawal when they filed a complaint with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
It was during a visit from a police officer in April that they were informed about the withdrawal. The couple alleged that they were told the case was dropped partly because the victim did not report the incident within 24 hours, which she refutes, stating that she reported it shortly after the incident and provided her statement.
The victim suspects that there is a lack of attention to her case because the perpetrator is allegedly white and has since moved to Sasolburg. The victim and her husband have filed a complaint regarding the service they received from the police, which is currently being investigated.
“These people are taking us for fools. They keep delaying, and this situation is very painful for us. We need justice; we have been persistent in seeking updates, but have received nothing concrete. We want the man to be locked behind bars for what he has done,” said the victim’s husband.
The victim mentioned that she has never been called to appear in court to testify, nor has she received updates. Instead, it has always been her and her husband who have had to reach out for information about the status of her case, which adds to her stress and anxiety.
Ladybrand Police Spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring referred Free State World to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Free State Spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane stated that the matter is being addressed by NPA management due to its seriousness. He noted that the Chief Prosecutor is currently conducting investigations.
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