Rapist trial: Dad breaks down
2003-08-07 19:49
Johannesburg - A single father broke down as he gave evidence on how his young daughter had begged him to let her go unaccompanied to a shop two streets from their flat. The first time she went alone, she was allegedly raped.
The father was giving evidence in the trial of the man alleged to be South Africa's worst-ever serial rapist - Gauteng chef Fanwell Khumalo - in the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday.
The father's testimony followed that of 42 alleged rape and indecent assault victims.
After the alleged rape, the father said, he started "hating sex" and his daughter had cried almost daily.
She and her father had undergone counselling for about a year, he told the court.
The child's mother lived in KwaZulu-Natal, but she had gone to live with her father so that he could "give her a better life".
In terms of a court order, the media may not describe Khumalo or publish the ages, schools, grade, home suburb, religion or race of the victims.
Khumalo has pleaded innocent to 132 counts, including kidnapping, indecent assault and rape, on the grounds of mistaken identity.
The trial started months ago, and resumed this week.
Twenty-three doctors, the arresting officer and some of the victims' mothers are also still to testify.
The trial continues.
- SAPA