A 24-year-old grandson of Nelson Mandela has been arrested on charges of raping a 15-year-old girl, according to the International Business Times. The rape incident happened in a popular restaurant located in Greenside, Johannesburg.
The spokesman of the girl's family told to the Daily Sun that the girl was with her friends in the restaurant when it happened.
"Apparently she went to the toilet and he grabbed her and raped her inside one of the toilets," he said.
The spokesman added that the girl lived with her mother. After the news reached her family, her father tried to open a case to no avail.
Winnie Madizikela-Mandela, ex-wife of the late Nelson Mandela, was accused by the girl's family for meddling with the affairs.
The Daily Sun reported that Madizikela-Mandela asked the girl's family some time so that their family can deal with the issue.
"Instead, Winnie's bodyguard went to the family pretending to be a cop. The father was told there was no need to arrest the suspect but when the father asked to see his badge, he didn't have one. It turned out he had been sent by Winnie," he said.
Madizikela-Mandela promised, after a meeting at her home, that her grandson would be surrendered to the police. She also promised that she would call a press conference. However, none of these promises were fulfilled.
The family spokesman said that the girl's family was not happy with the way they were treated by authorities and the Mandela family.
"Just because they have a famous surname, they think they can get away with crime," the spokesman said.
"Children can't just be raped and then everything is alright. The girl is young and doesn't even drink," he added.
The girl is currently undergoing counselling
According to The Guardian, Brigadier Mashadi Selepe, spokeswoman for the Gauteng police, said a case of rape was opened on 14 August.
"According to the complainant, it happened on 7 August 2015," she continued. "It was reported to the police on the 14 August 2015."
Selepe added that she was unaware of the reports that Madizikela-Mandela tried to interfere with the case, sending a bodyguard posing as a cop.
"That was never brought to our attention nor reported," she said.
She further insisted that fair treatment would be given, despite the accused being a Mandela. "All the rights of suspects are upheld during their investigation and lawful custody," she said.
Times Live reported that the staff of the restaurant where the incident happened had no idea about the crime.
"On the night this was supposed to have happened, we saw nothing," said a staff member who didn't want to be named. He added that it had been a busy Friday night.
