Rape-accused rugby coach’s pre-trial date set for June

RAPE-ACCUSED Glenville Marthinus is set for a pre-trial on June 8 following his brief appearance at the Atlantis Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Marthinus, a Mamre rugby coach, is accused of having groomed young girls from Atlantis and Mamre before raping them.

He has been charged with four counts of rape.

He allegedly posed as a model agent, doctor and online fitness instructor, and lured a number of girls by creating fake social media profiles, soliciting nude photos and videos from them, and then blackmailing them for sexual favours.

According to court documents, Marthinus had been placed under house arrest during a previous court appearance, and this was subject to all the same bail conditions as before. He was granted R10 000 bail.

“The accused is immediately placed under house arrest for the duration of the trial and until the case is finalised.

“The accused is not allowed to leave his residence at any particular time except for work purposes, to attend to a medical emergency of himself and an immediate family member such as his wife and children, and to attend a funeral,” court documents read.

Janine Passenz, spokesperson for anti-gender-based violence organisation Survivors Haven, said the girls and their parents were becoming frustrated.

“That is why victim support is so important. We do not want him to enjoy special treatment. It has been more than a year, things must come to closure now,” said Passenz.

One of the parents said some of the girls, including her daughter, were subjected to victim shaming by the community.

“We are happy with the progress of the court case so far, we understand that there was a delay due to Covid-19, but can see there is progress.

“Our children are left to the mercy of the community, who are victim-blaming the victims involved in the case. Marthinus had built a reputation for himself in the Mamre community. Our children are forced to deal with reality every day and have to face the community every day as victims,” the woman said.

Meanwhile, a 63-year-old charged with the rape of his 14-year-old granddaughter appeared at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court yesterday. His case was postponed to May 18 for bail application.