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South African Shock as Rape Victim is Charged with Statutory Rape

Melanie Nathan- 11-18-2010 – Feast your eyes on this story- just when you thought you had heard it all;  South African rights groups have expressed shock at a decision to charge a 15-year-old alleged gang-rape victim with having underage sex. The 15-year-old school girl was reported to have been drugged with a spiked drink before being raped.

The girl was charged with statutory rape along with her alleged rapists, who are aged 14 and 16.

The alleged rape happened earlier this month in a school east of Johannesburg in front of other pupils who filmed the incident on their phones.

Prosecutors said rape charges were dropped because of a lack of evidence.  However, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it had decided all three could be charged under South Africa’s Sexual Offences Act, which outlaws consensual sex with a minor.

The Children’s Right Project, a legal advice group at the Western Cape University, said taking the matter to trial would not serve the girl’s interests.

What a way to further brutalize a victim!

Stats

• South Africa has the highest incidence of rape amongst Interpol states
• 1 in 4 men admit to rape
• Nearly 150 women are raped every day

Melanie Nathan
Nathan@privatecourts.com
Source BBC News.