In an unexpected turn of events, no rape charges were pursued against a Limpopo radio personality. He still has to face a charge that he showed pornographic material to children.
The suspect works for one of the big radio stations based in Thohoyandou. He was arrested on Monday, 19 May, following an investigation by Waterval detectives. The police report stated that he was to be charged for raping a six-year-old boy.
He first appeared in the Waterval Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 20 May, and his case was postponed to Tuesday, 27 May, for a bail application. His application, which was in the form of an affidavit, served before court on Tuesday and was not opposed. He was granted bail of R1,000. The case was postponed to 3 July 2025, pending further investigations.
The accused may not be identified to protect the identity of the children.
The National Prosecuting Authority's regional spokesperson, Ms Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, said the case was on the roll for a bail application when the mother of the alleged victims and their grandfather approached the prosecution in the company of the investigating officer. "They requested to withdraw the case," she said.
Malabi-Dzhangi said that the withdrawal statement was already filed in the docket. She added that the mother and the grandfather had even interrupted the forensic social worker from interviewing the children, because they wanted the case to be withdrawn.
"The accused was charged with exposing children to a pornographic video and his case was postponed to 3 July for further investigations," she said.
The alleged act is said to have taken place at the children's residence in Mpheni Block B. Allegations are that the radio presenter came back from work and started showing porn to his cousins, the six-year-old boy and his 13-year-old sister.