Africa-Press – South-Africa. A 68-year-old Cape Town man was arrested in Atlantis on Friday in connection with sexual assault allegations that date back almost 40 years.
In terms of criminal law, the man cannot be identified until he pleads to the charges against him.
The complainant, Emily*, now 51, says she can finally breathe a sigh of relief as she prepares to go to court to see her alleged abuser face the law.
According to her, the man sexually assaulted her in 1984 and 1985 when he removed her underwear and put her on his naked lap. His genitals were exposed to touch her private parts.
“Last year November, I opened a criminal case against him after I heard that he also did the same to my sister, and that’s when I drew the line. The police told me that he was arrested on Friday,” she said.
Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk said the arrest was made during a tracing operation in Atlantis.
“He will appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court on Monday,” Van Wyk said.
Emily added: “On Monday, I am going to be at the court, because I need to be sure, and I want to look him in the eyes in court so that he can see how serious I am about this matter. I am no longer going to keep quiet.”
She described him as a “danger to the community” and said he deserved nothing less than a life sentence.
She said:
She claimed that at the time, the man worked for her father as a driver. He lived with them during the week, but would return to his own home and family over weekends.
In June 2022, she lodged a civil action against him for R1 million for infringement of her personality and dignity.
The court papers in that case read: “The amount claimed in respect of the general damages for pain and suffering, loss of amenities of life and contumelia is a globular figure. It is not reasonably practicable to apportion to each of the sub-heads of damages a specific portion of the amount claimed.”
Emily told News24 that she would not back down in the civil case.
“My lawyer advised me that in their nature, civil cases take forever to be resolved, similarly to this criminal case that I opened in November. I will go ahead with both cases, until some justice is served,” Emily said.
*Name has been changed to protect her identity.
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