In the May 9 to 15 issue the Mail & Guardian reported that magistrate James van Wyk had granted bail to Dan Mabote, a man accused of raping a seven-year-old girl. The girl, Mamokgethi Malebana, had disappeared.
An M&G reporter was informed by the clerk of the Germiston Regional Court that Van Wyk heard the case. Van Wyk said at the time he could not remember the case and that he heard lots of similar cases.
Van Wyk informed the M&G last week that it was in fact magistrate WJ Geel who presided over the bail application. Malebana has since been found dead after Mabote led the police to her body.