The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is deeply concerned by the blatant manipulation of the criminal justice system in the case involving the sexual assault of an 11-year-old minor in East London. Recent developments have confirmed that there is a coordinated and corrupt effort within the East London Magistrate Court to undermine justice and facilitate the eventual release of the accused.
The EFF has been made aware of this disturbing case involving an 11-year-old boy who was allegedly sexually assaulted by two women, aged 29 and 27, at the Sinqawunqawini informal settlement near King Phalo Airport. From the beginning, this case has been characterised by secrecy, irregular conduct, and interference that raises serious questions about the integrity of court officials involved.
On 31 December 2025, a bail hearing was convened without public notice and without the knowledge of the investigating officer. This secretive and highly irregular process was clearly intended to quietly secure the release of the accused. The EFF condemned this conduct and mobilised the community to attend court when the matter was postponed to 05 January 2026.
On 05 January 2026, the accused appeared before court but abruptly abandoned their bail application in the face of public scrutiny. On 06 January 2026, they were again brought before court, only for the matter to be deferred under the claim that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was still investigating.
Today, the legal representatives of the accused attempted yet again to sneak the accused through for a bail hearing. When it became clear that their intentions had been exposed and that the public had mobilised to attend court, the accused once again abandoned their bail application.
Most disturbingly, during these proceedings, the case docket reportedly disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
The EFF is unequivocal: these events are not coincidental. They form part of a deliberate and coordinated strategy to weaken the case, frustrate due process, exhaust public vigilance, and ultimately collapse the matter altogether. This pattern strongly suggests collusion between certain court officials and other actors within the criminal justice system to protect the accused at the expense of a vulnerable child.
This case exposes a deeply worrying and well-established trend of manipulation within the East London Magistrate Court, where cases are allegedly engineered to achieve predetermined outcomes that serve the interests of particular individuals and groups. Dockets go missing, hearings are conducted in secrecy, matters are postponed without justification, and procedural rules are selectively applied. It is on this basis that the EFF believes that even politically sensitive cases, including the case involving the Commander-in-Chief of the EFF, were not spared from similar manipulation to appease organisations such as AfriForum.
Of further grave concern is the continued failure of authorities to ensure the safety of the child. Information before us indicates that the accused are close associates of the child’s mother, and that the mother herself has allegedly made inappropriate sexual remarks to the child and encouraged similar behaviour by her friends. Despite these alarming allegations, the child reportedly remains in the care of the mother, with no visible intervention by social services or law enforcement.
The EFF therefore demands:
- An immediate, independent investigation into corruption and misconduct at the East London Magistrate Court.
- A full explanation for the disappearance of the case docket and accountability for those responsible.
- Direct oversight by senior NPA leadership to prevent further manipulation of this matter.
- Immediate intervention by child protection authorities to secure the safety and wellbeing of the minor.
- An end to secret hearings and all irregular court processes in this case.
The EFF stands firm and unapologetic in its opposition to the abuse of children in any form. We will not allow corrupt networks within the justice system to collude with accused persons to defeat justice. We will continue to mobilise the community, monitor every court appearance, and expose every act of corruption until justice is served.
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Fast Draw
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