Mandela's Grandson Granted Bail After Rape Charges

A grandson of Nelson Mandela accused of raping a 15-year-old girl, was granted bail in a South African court today, August 25.

Mbuso Mandela, 24, was arrested and taken to court after allegedly sexually assaulting a a 15-year-old girl in a restaurant toilet in Johannensburg earlier this month.

The young man denied the rape charges, claiming that the sex was consensual and the girl was above 16 years – the legal age of consent in South Africa.


However, the father of the girl claims that his daughter is actually 15: “My daughter doesn’t even have an ID; she only has a birth certificate. She was born in 2000, and she definitely is 15 years old.

I have always heard about rape, but once it hits a person close to you, you realise it’s a painful thing that you don’t wish on anyone. I’m just praying that this case will be treated like any other rape case.”

Marinda Veldsman, a Mndela’s lawyer said: “Mbuso would adhere to his bail conditions because he is a father of two, with a third child on the way. He does not have a job. She assured the court that her client enjoyed no special privilege. He does not want to be tried as a Mandela, he wants to be tried as a normal person.”

Mandela has been granted bail of 7,000 rand, nearly $540, and will return to the court on September 16. It would be recalled that earlier this year another Madiba’s grandson Mandla Mandela, was convicted of assaulting a 40-year-old motorist during a road-rage incident.

Source: naij.com