The Langa Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Stakeholder Forum is appealing for the law to take its course against a karate coach who allegedly raped young girls at his gym.
The suspect appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 4 February on a charge of statutory rape.(“Coach arrested for rape”, City Vision, 30 January).
Provincial police spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg confirmed the suspect faced three counts of rape.
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“The victims are aged between 12 and 16 years old,” he said.
GBVF chair Anele Gqasana stressed that the forum will not rest until the perpetrator is sentenced.
He said the news came as a shock, as the accused was a trusted member of the community, of society.
“We are still shocked by his [alleged] deeds because he was a well-known person who worked with children from the community. We want justice to prevail for the victims.”
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On Thursday 30 January various community stakeholders met at Langa Police Station to discuss the matter.
Gqasana said stakeholders agreed, among others, to put measures in place to protect children against would-be perpetrators. He also called on all parents to take steps to guarantee their children’s protection.
“Parents must take responsibility for their children’s safety and well-being. It is vital for parents to have a relationship with their children. They must be open to them. They need to ask them how the training was when they come from the gym or from school.”
Gqasana called for counselling of all the children who attended the karate classes.
