Mbuso Mandela, 24, was arrested last week for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in the bathroom of a Johannesburg pub.
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Earlier on Tuesday, the accused denied allegations of rape in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.
A struggle stalwart’s grandson, accused of rape by a teenage girl, has been granted R7000 bail.
The BBC understands that he will argue that it was consensual sex and he didn’t know that his accuser was underage since the bar did not allow under-21s on its premises.
In granting bail, the judge said there was a reasonable prospect that a trial could end in an acquittal.
The 24-year-old has been granted bail of R7,000 in the Johannesburg Magistrates Court. He states that he hopes Mandela is not shown favoritism by the courts for his famous family name. He does not have a job.
Official court documents by the girl stated that she had “friendzoned” Mbuso Mandela, telling him that their relationship was platonic only, but that he refused to accept this and instead raped her. A press conference was expected to be held by the Mandela family.
Nelson Mandela is popularly known for leading the fight against apartheid and later became the first president of a liberated South Africa.
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“While we respect the right of any accused person to be presumed innocent until proven guilty‚ our thoughts and prayers are with the victim during this hard and trying time‚” the women’s league said in a statement. Across the road is the building that once housed Nelson Mandela’s law practice in the 1950s.
