Alleged Bonteheuwel rapist case postponed

A man who is alleged to have raped a 29-year-old mother in Bonteheuwel on Sunday morning appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates Court on Friday.

30-year-old Taswell Booysen alleged to have raped a mother of two. It is understood the woman was out in the early hours of Sunday morning, with friends.

Booysen was set to apply for bail on Friday, with the help of legal aid.

The bail hearing was postponed to 14 July 2022 as the accused has opted to appoint a private attorney.

Booysen first appeared in court on Monday, as the state gathered previous criminal records of the suspect, as he did not have legal representation.

Booysen will remain in custody. The State will oppose his bail application.

Ward councillor, Angus McKenzie, says this should send out a strong message to perpetrators that incidents such as rape, won’t be tolerated.

‘’The accused remanding in custody must send out a strong message that behavior and actions such as these will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in strongest and sternest way possible. We will end GBV and this is but another step in the right direction to keeping our women and children safe.’’

McKenzie says perpetrators like these should not roam the streets.

‘’As a community we will oppose bail, in fact in all GBV cases we oppose bail. No person that hurts our mothers and children deserves bail. While both the victim and perpetrators are known to me the victim will need to deal with the shame, pain and trauma but thankfully due to our strong relationship with SAPS and our combined commitment to fighting GBV the perpetrator will face the consequences of his barbarian actions.’’

‘’We will oppose bail and ensure and fight the justice system so that this cretin never ever gets the opportunity to hurt another women again. I want to reiterate that no women must feel intimidated to speak up, I am there to listen, I am there to act and I am there to ensure we stop GBV and brings those responsible to book.’’

 The ward councillor says he will continue to monitor GBV cases.

‘’We encourage victims to speak up and speak up loudly, breaking the silence for those responsible to dealt with, with the full might of the law,’’ said Angus McKenzie, Bonteheuwel ward councillor.

‘’In our attempts to shine a spotlight on GBV we will continue to monitor these cases and encourage victims to speak up and speak up loudly, breaking the silence for those responsible to dealt with, with the full might of the law,’’ he added.

 

PICTURE: Pixabay

Done By: Mitchum George