Alleged 'fidget spinner' child rapist abandons bail bid

The five-year-old girl was raped near Kapteinsklip station in Tafelsig. Picture: Jack Lestrade

The five-year-old girl was raped near Kapteinsklip station in Tafelsig. Picture: Jack Lestrade

Published Oct 6, 2017

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Cape Town - An alleged child rapist whose little victim identified him to police has ditched his bail application.

The 49-year-old man, who was dubbed the “Fidget Rapist”, cannot be named until an identity parade is held.

It’s alleged that he lured the five-year-old child to a bush with the promise of buying her a fidget spinner toy.

Sporting a bruised right-eye at the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he is facing a charge of rape, his lawyer said he would no longer apply for bail.

The long-awaited identity parade has yet to be done after it hit another snag - lawyer, Naiema Herandien, said her client had been assaulted in Pollsmoor Prison.

“He has elected to abandon his bail application,” Herandien said.

“He has been assaulted in custody and we need a J7 [form] to be completed so that he can visit the hospital. There are injuries to his right eye.”

The court also heard that three witness statements are still outstanding.

Forensic evidence such as the sexual assault kit and clothing items were also sent to the lab for testing.

The court has asked for an eight-week postponement to allow the investigation to be complete before it can be moved to the Regional Court.

The matter was postponed to 23 November, the birthday of the little girl’s maternal grandmother.

“The fact that he is not asking for bail is a sign that he knows he is guilty,” said the child’s great-grandfather outside court.

“We are upset that the identity parade has not been done because it is affecting the process of the case.”

The child’s mother, who gave birth to a baby boy last week, broke down in tears outside court and was unable to speak.

The child was raped on 20 August when the man, who is known to her family, allegedly lured her away from her home in Rocklands to a nearby bush at Kapteinsklip Train Station.

He allegedly raped the child twice before he was caught by a passerby who scared him off and flagged down Law Enforcement officers.

The girl identified the man at the Mitchells Plain Police Station before she was taken home.

She has since returned to crèche and is receiving counselling from a social worker.

Daily Voice

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