A North West man who had been serving an 18-year prison term for attempted rape is set to walk free after his conviction and sentence were overturned. April “Belele” Bunze was initially found guilty on 4 August 2021. The complainant, who lived two houses away from Bunze, had testified that he often drank alcohol with her mother.
She told the court that Bunze sent her to buy a cigarette, and when she returned, he raped her. She further stated that he threatened to kill her if she revealed what had happened. The girl’s mother took her to a clinic the following day after an aunt noticed she was struggling to walk.
Under cross-examination, the complainant, who was aged 13 at the time of the trial, later admitted she lied about telling her family that Bunze had attempted to rape her, saying she feared for her family’s safety. Her mother testified that on 1 May 2011, she had been resting in her bedroom while her daughter played outside. Upon returning home, the child claimed she had been playing. The following day, the mother suspected something was wrong.
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