The trial of two Cape Town brothers accused of sexually abusing their two step-sisters between 1974 and 1979, will get underway on Thursday.
The 60-year-old Claudine Shiels and her 56-year-old sister Lisa van der Merwe were allegedly molested by relatives, who are said to be from a prominent Constantia family.
The lobby group, Women and Men Against Child Abuse, says the trial will be groundbreaking as it will test the Frankel 8 law - a 2018 amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act which eliminated the period in which victims can report sexual abuse. Essentially this will be the oldest sex abuse case to go on trial in South Africa.
Founder Miranda Jordan, says the courage shown by the sisters to speak out and their determination to take action, should be viewed against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement, which created a powerful chorus for victims to come forward.
The trial is set to be heard in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court.
