Trafficking, child rape case delayed

The case against a South African national accused of human trafficking and rape, which was scheduled to start yesterday, was postponed to 20 July on his insistence, so he can have time to prepare his defence based on documents disclosed to him. Deputy Judge President Hosea Angula, who is presiding over the trial, stressed to Marthinus Pretorius that the purpose of the postponement was to give him time to prepare his defence. “The disclosure (of the documents) was already made to you in April this year and the continuous postponement of the trial is a waste of time and resources,” Angula warned the accused. Pretorius said he needed 30 to 60 days to prepare and also asked for colour photographs of the pictures used in a police photo plan, which is included in the docket. “Although I do not want to waste the court's time the pictures in the police photo plan are in black and white and I consequently cannot see them clearly,” he said. Angula ordered that copies of the docket be made at the office of the High Court registrar. He also ordered the prosecution to provide colour copies of the photos to Pretorius. Pretorius, 47, who is said to be a former South African police officer, also faces other charges of assault by threat, common assault and malicious damage to property. It is alleged that he raped three minor girls aged between 13 and 14 in Swakopmund in 2012, before fleeing the country in September of that year. The accused was employed at the Rössing uranium mine when he allegedly committed the crimes. He was arrested in South Africa in April 2016, and extradited to Namibia in December last year. Namibian citizen Johanna Lukas allegedly provided the minor girls to Pretorius on four occasions between April and May 2012. She was sentenced to 13 years' direct imprisonment on counts of human trafficking and rape in August 2015. Pretorius is alleged to have paid Lukas N$10 000. Felistas Shikerete-Vendura appeared on behalf of the State, while Miese Tjituri appeared for the defence.FRED GOEIEMAN

Trafficking, child rape case delayed

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-29

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Trafficking, child rape case delayed

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-29

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