The 31-year-old soccer coach and academy director who is facing a charge of rape remained in custody after his formal bail application could not proceed in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 2 July.
The bail application was postponed to Tuesday, 7 July, after an electricity interruption prevented court proceedings from continuing. The accused remains in custody until his next court appearance. As the accused has not yet pleaded to the charge, he cannot be identified.
The man, who is a director at a local soccer academy in Tshisahulu outside Thohoyandou, was arrested by members of the Thohoyandou Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit on Thursday, 25 June. He faces allegations of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old boy.
According to police, the case came to light after the boy's mother allegedly discovered conversations between her son and the accused relating to sexual encounters.
“When confronted, the boy reportedly disclosed that the sexual acts had taken place on several occasions. The mother subsequently took him to a local medical facility for medical examination before the matter was reported to the police,” Vhembe police spokesperson Captain Vuledzani Dathi said.
The accused made his first appearance in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Friday, 26 June, when the matter was postponed to 2 July for a formal bail application which could not proceed as stated.