BRONKHORSTSPRUIT, November 2 (ANA) – A scuffle broke out in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court east of Pretoria, on Thursday, when an unidentified African National Congress (ANC) member tried to strip naked in support of a domestic worker who was allegedly raped by her employer before he forced her to perform sexual acts on his dog.
Tshwane ANC whip Jabu Mabona and the police had their hands full as they tried to calm down the woman and other angry members of the public.
The incident happened shortly before a 45-year-old man applied for bail after he allegedly repeatedly raping his domestic worker and forcing her to perform sexual acts on his dog.
“I am taking my clothes off inside this court,” shouted the unidentified woman in isiNdebele.
“Why did he rape her? We are tired of these people. Why did he rape her?”
The woman tried to pull her skirt up but Mabona quickly grabbed her hands. Some people inside the packed courtroom laughed while others watched the scuffle in shock.
Mabona later confirmed to the African News Agency that the woman was an ANC member.
“She is an ANC member from Zithobeni [township outside Bronkhorstspruit] where the rape victim also stays. I think she was very angry because of the alleged rape,” said Mabona.
A man, clad in an Economic Freedom Fighters’ shirt, who was also standing in the public gallery inside the court, later hurled racial insults at a white female police officer for allegedly taking a photo of him with her cellphone.
“Hey, you white officer, don’t shoot me with your cell phone,” shouted the man.
“Only journalists are allowed to take pictures here. We are here because of your brother [the accused].”
Police fired stun grenades outside the court to disperse a crowd of people who wanted to force their way into the court premises.
The man abandoned his bail application and the matter was postponed to February 5, for further investigations.
The accused is facing 10 charges including rape, sexual assault, and malicious damage to property. He was arrested last week for allegedly raping a 41-year-old woman. The incidents allegedly happened in Riamar Park, Bronkhorstspruit, on October 23.
– African News Agency (ANA)
