Children’s rights activists have expressed their shock after a prominent George dentist was released on bail after allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy during a sleepover at his Harolds Bay home earlier this month.
This just more than four months after he was convicted and sentenced to four years under house arrest for performing sexual acts on a minor.
The 43-year-old man, who cannot be named until he has pleaded, appeared in the George Magistrate’s Court on Friday where he applied for bail.
Magistrate Nelson Malaudzi granted him bail of R5 000 on condition that no child under the age of 16 “enters his premises”.
Malaudzi said he was convinced that the accused was not a flight risk and that he would not interfere with the complainant or witnesses in the case. He added that it would not be in the interest of justice to deny him bail as he was the sole breadwinner and caregiver to his three children.
The matter was postponed until May 29.
The man is accused of entering his home’s guest room, where the young boy was sleeping, on April 11 between 8pm and 9.30pm where after he pulled down the child’s pants and touched his genitals.
Spokesperson for Women and Men Against Child Abuse Germaine Vogel said she was appalled by the court's decision. "Who is going to protect this country's children while these suspects are out on bail. Who is making sure that they are not harming other children? In this particular case we are especially appalled as the alleged crime happened while the man was under house arrest. Someone has to take responsibility."
Vogel said they would be following up on the matter.
