WOMEN'S RIGHTS GROUP PRAISES 1970 RAPE SURVIVOR FOR SPEAKING OUT

By Shamiela Fisher
Eyewitness News
January 22, 2017

http://ewn.co.za/2017/01/21/women-s-rights-group-praises-1970-rape-survivor-for-speaking-out

A woman holds up a poster during a protest against rape and sexual abuse. Photo by Thomas Holder

CAPE TOWN - Women's rights group Matla A Bana has praised a 1970 rape survivor for speaking out more than five decades after the attack.

A Kraaifontein pastor was this week found guilty on two counts of rape for crimes committed in 1970.

The court found the church leader raped his accuser when she was eight years old.
The woman, now 54 years old, says the accused gained her trust because he was a senior member of her father's church.

But the 78-year-old grandfather maintains his innocence, saying the church would have acted against him if he was guilty.

The organisation’s Monique Strydom says, “It’s very brave that people speak out. The problem with paedophiles is that they will never stop and the law is the law. I’m not sure what they’re going to do when it comes to sentencing, but I feel if you’ve done the deed you must pay.”