‘Rapist’ athlete busted
ARRESTED: Mandla Phangalele, 42,
An angry community in Philippi East demolished the home of a well-known athlete accused of raping a 12-year-old girl over a period of two years.
The 42-year-old man allegedly kept his victim silent by threatening to kill her family.
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said Mandla Phangalele was arrested on Sunday after a rape case was opened.
He made a brief appearance at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Monday where his case was postponed to 4 December for a bail application, according to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila.
A family member of the 12-year-old claimed the rape allegations emerged after Phangalele tried to rape the child’s friend.
They told the Cape Times: “The mother had to attend an all-night church prayer service and asked her neighbour to allow her daughter to sleep over with her child.
“Mandla came to the house at night. The children opened because they knew him. He told them he would also sleep in the house to ensure they were safe.
“The neighbour’s child claims in the middle of the night, Mandla came to their bed and started touching her inappropriately.
“He then proceeded to get on top of her; that is when she was scared and cried.
“When the second child woke up, Mandla apparently quickly got up and left the house.”
The neighbour’s child told her friends and family what had happened.
Phangalele apparently denied the allegations and when the family noticed their daughter was also uncomfortable, they managed to get her to speak.
“She revealed that Phangalele has been raping since she was 10 years old and threatened to kill her and her mother and bury them under the bed where no one will find them,” said the family.
Community leader Daluxolo Naki said residents demolished his shack because they didn’t want Phangalele to come back to the community.
“Mandla was not only trusted by the victim’s mother but by the entire community. We were proud of him as an athlete who participated in marathons and did well; a decent and respected man,” said Naki.
Cape Times