Alleged rapist of Gauteng businesswoman, arrested 13 years later, abandons bail bid

A man from Gqeberha, arrested for the alleged rape of Gauteng businesswoman Andy Kawa more than a decade ago, has withdrawn his bail application during a recent court appearance. The accused, yet to enter a plea and currently unnamed, expressed his decision in the magistrate’s court. Although the State indicated readiness to proceed, the matter was postponed as the accused needed to consult a doctor at St Albans Correctional Facility regarding an injured leg.

Arrested two weeks prior, 13 years after the incident on the Gqeberha beachfront, the accused faces charges related to the alleged 16-hour gang rape of Kawa in December 2010. During the attack, Kawa was reportedly thrown between the dunes. Her car was broken into, and belongings stolen during the assault. The accused was apprehended while asleep on a park bench in Summerstrand.

Police records reveal that the 48-year-old accused faced theft charges in June 2020, but the case was withdrawn four months later in the Mount Road policing area. His DNA sample, taken at the time of arrest, matched Kawa’s rape case in June 2023.

Kawa, unimpressed with the delayed developments, is set to testify in the Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha the following Monday in her civil case against Police Minister Bheki Cele and three police officers from the Humewood Police Station. She is suing the State for R5.8 million, citing alleged negligence in the handling of her case. Kawa contends that the police did not adequately investigate the matter, leading to the delayed identification and apprehension of the accused.

The withdrawal of the bail application raises questions about the accused’s legal strategy, potentially signaling complexities in the upcoming legal proceedings. The postponement, driven by the accused’s need for medical consultation, adds another layer of delay to a case that has already seen significant time pass since the alleged incident. The evolving legal saga underscores the challenges and complexities inherent in seeking justice for crimes that occurred years ago.