Patlakwe Has A Case To Answer

By Oliver Modise
Correspondent | Monday December 15, 2008 00:00

 

Currently, Patlakwe works as communications manager at the Public Enterprises Evaluation and Privatisation Agency (PEEPA)
Delivering her ruling on Friday, Zvide said that the state has been able to present a case against Patlakwe.

She said that from the evidence, Patlakwe booked a room at Lamila Lodge with the intention to have sex with the young girl.She said that the evidence of the young girl, that Patlakwe had taken off her clothes while in the room and raped her was corroborated by the young girl's mother as well as testimony from the young girl's two sisters who had all testified that they were informed about the rape.

She said that while there was no forensic evidence to link Patlakwe to the alleged rape, the evidence of one of the employees said that when she cleaned the room, the bedding had been messed up suggesting that people had been sleeping on the bed.

Zvide said that the presence of unused condoms went hand in hand with the young girl's testimony that Patlakwe did not use a condom.

She said that the report from the medical doctor could not be ignored because it revealed that sexual intercourse had taken place. 'Medical evidence seems to suggest that sex did occur,' said Zvide.

Zvide has set 12 and 19 February as the next trial dates. Patlakwe's lawyer, Basimane Bogopa, has indicated that the defence intends to call five witnesses.
Bogopa indicated a few months back in court that if his client was called to give his defence, he would prove to the court that he tried to have sex with the young girl but failed after the young girl changed her mind while they were at the lodge.

Bogopa said that the young girl's evidence is contradictory because she told the court that Patlakwe did not use a condom, while the DNA tests do not link him to the rape.