East London Women Accused in Minor Sexual Assault Case Abandon Bail Again

Bail application withdrawn for second time

Two women from East London facing serious charges linked to the alleged sexual violation of a minor have once again abandoned their bail application.

The accused appeared in the East London Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where they were expected to conclude testimony in support of their application for bail. Instead, they withdrew the application for a second time while proceedings were underway.

Arrest and allegations

The women, who are both young mothers, were arrested in November 2025 in the Orange Grove area. They are accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy.

The case has attracted significant public attention due to the age of the alleged victim and the seriousness of the charges.

Previous bail attempts

This is not the first time the accused have withdrawn a bail application. Shortly after their arrest, they abandoned an initial application, and the matter was postponed to 6 January 2026.

They later returned to court in late December and proceeded with another bail application, but once again withdrew it during testimony.

Political reaction and public concern

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the region have strongly opposed the release of the accused, citing concerns about the safety and wellbeing of the minor.

On 1 January, the party released a statement expressing concern over how the bail proceedings were conducted, stating that the matter was handled with limited public transparency despite its seriousness.

The EFF also raised allegations regarding the relationship between the accused and the child’s mother. These claims have not been tested in court and remain allegations.

Child protection concerns

Following Monday’s court appearance, the EFF’s East London chairperson expressed concern about whether adequate steps had been taken to protect the child involved.

No public comment has yet been made by the National Prosecuting Authority regarding child protection measures or the repeated withdrawal of the bail applications.

Case returns to court

The two accused remain in custody and are expected to return to the East London Magistrates’ Court on 6 January 2026.

As with all criminal cases, the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.