The teenager accusing Orlando Pirates midfielder Benedict Vilakazi of rape did not worship the soccer player, her aunt told the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
”She did not even follow soccer,” the 29-year-old woman said.
Her 15-year-old niece could easily have picked up who Vilakazi was from her friend who would ”become excited when Tso [Vilakazi’s nickname] came to visit”.
She said the girl did not emulate the behaviour of her friend, who wanted autographs and got excited when she saw him on TV.
The woman and her husband, whose testimony finished earlier in the day, were at the time of the incident the girl’s legal guardians.
Both testified there was no suspicion of a relationship between Vilakazi and the girl, or that the one was pursuing the other.
Defence lawyer Ike Motloung informed the court his client will testify the girl had been a nuisance and ”was after him”.
”The accused will say that you [the uncle] said you could see it yourself and told him, ‘It’s up to you. Don’t get me involved.”’
The uncle said: ”It will be sad that he will fabricate something like this. I will not sit back and allow a situation that could cause such havoc.”
The aunt told the court her husband would never have responded in such a way if told his niece was after Vilakazi.
The aunt said she knew her niece had a boyfriend whom she planned to introduce to the family, but was surprised to discover that she was sexually active.
She said there was only one incident after the alleged rape on January 27 and before the charge was laid on February 12 that she saw Vilakazi and the girl together.
The family had been at a restaurant when Vilakazi and a friend came to join them.
”When he passed [the girl] he put both hands on her shoulders and greeted her. Her face looked uncomfortable and I wondered why,” the aunt said
She said she did not give a lot of thought to it at the time.
This took place on the Saturday, a week after the alleged rape. The girl was sick that week. — Sapa