POLICE OFFICIAL DENIED BAIL FOR RAPE OF A BOY
The Pretoria North Magistrates’ Court has denied bail to a police official, Sergeant Elvis Hlungwani Mihloti (38) who is working for the Rapid Railway Response Unit of the South African Police Service. He is facing a charge of rape of a 15-year-old boy.
It is alleged that on 07 October 2022, while the minor was with his friends, Mihloti allegedly took and drove with the child to different taverns and later went to Vicks Tavern in Soshanguve. While at the tavern drinking, it is alleged that Mihloti asked the boy to accompany him to check if his car was still parked. When they arrived at his car, the boy passed out and when he regained consciousness in the wee hours of the morning, he found himself in Mihloti’s bed while busy raping him. He then instructed him to get dressed and promised to drop him off at home. On their way to the victim’s home, Mihloti stopped on the M17 and pulled the boy out of the car and drove off. The uncle took the boy to hospital after he overheard the boy telling his male neighbor who is said to be a close friend of the accused what had happened to him and later reported the matter to the police.
The police reported the matter to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on 14 October 2022. Mihloti was arrested by IPID same day in some hospital after he voluntarily booked himself at a wellness ward.
In court, he asked to be released on R1000 bail due to his ill health. However, the prosecutor Nkhagweleni Phanuel Madavhi opposed his bail application. He told the court that accused is facing a serious offence, releasing him on bail would undermine the campaigns of GBV against women and children. The Magistrate agreed with the state and said the accused did not put unexceptional circumstances to warrant his release on bail before court.
The matter was postponed to 07 December for further investigations
