Eastern Cape doctor accused of raping teenager

A Nelson Mandela Bay doctor has been arrested on a charge of rape after a teenager from his community alleged that he had lured her to a house and sexually assaulted her. As the man appeared in the Kariega magistrate’s court on Monday, similar allegations emerged from community members who had gathered in protest. They claimed that the 17-year-old girl was not his first alleged victim.

The doctor, who cannot be named until he has pleaded to the charge, works at a state hospital. A case was opened against him at the Despatch police station on Sunday. On Monday morning, a group of Bayland informal settlement residents marched to the KwaDwesi police station.

Led by community activist Tamsanqa Nkevu, they called for an investigation to be carried out into further allegations that child prostitution and human trafficking of girls aged between 13 and 16 were taking place in and around Nelson Mandela Bay, Qonce and East London. Calls and text messages to the doctor for comment went unanswered. It was later learnt that he was already in custody.

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Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli confirmed that a 58-year-old man had appeared briefly in the Kariega magistrate’s court on a charge of rape. He said he was remanded in custody, with the case postponed to Wednesday for a formal bail application. “The accused was arrested for his alleged involvement in the rape of a 17-year-old girl at a house in Kariega on Sunday February 1,” Nkohli said.

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