DURBAN - Dozens of protesters chanted slogans and demanded the rape accused stepfather be denied bail at the Verulam Magistrate's Court.
About 100 protesters, picketed outside the court and chanted slogans such as "no bail". Among the protesters were members of the DA and ANC, who wore party T-shirts outside court.
The protesters carried posters with the messages such as "real men don't rape" and called for the accused to get life imprisonment.
Inside court, the matter moved to the family court across the road.
Here’s the courtroom at the Family court opposite the Verulam Magistrates court, where the #VerulamRape accused is expected to appear @SundayTribuneSA pic.twitter.com/bxLdNaH1fw
— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J) June 14, 2018
“Life imprisonment” and “no bail” calls from those protesting outside Verulam Mag Court @SundayTribuneSA #VerulamRape pic.twitter.com/ZVmDMkuRZy
— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J) June 14, 2018
The 43-year-old man was arrested this week after it emerged that he allegedly raped his 10-year-old child.
Gruesome allegations include that he locked the little girl up in a small dirty room after her mother died.
Watch: The Verulam community chants “No Bail” outside the court where the man accused of keeping his 10 y/o daughter as sex slave for 5 years is set to make his first court appearance @SundayTribuneSA #VerulamRape pic.twitter.com/HW0Oj7y9qS
— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J) June 14, 2018
He allegedly used sex toys to rape the little girl, dressed her in lingerie and made her watch porn.
The #VerulamRape case has just been moved to the Family court across the road. Protestors are demanding to be let in. @SundayTribuneSA pic.twitter.com/2m83WOxrN0
— Karinda Jagmohan (@Karinda_J) June 14, 2018
Earlier on Thursday morning, some of the protesters had demanded to be let inside the court premises so they could demand no bail for the accused father. Court management tried to defuse the situation and called for more security to be deployed at the court entrances and exits.
The Mercury reported that the police had assigned a new investigating officer and the previous investigating officer was facing disciplinary charges and possible criminal charges.