/ 28 September 2005

Soccer star’s wife pretended to be him, court hears

On the day Benedict Vilakazi’s rape accuser laid a charge against him, his wife SMSed the girl pretending to be the soccer star, the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court heard on Wednesday.

The 15-year-old’s uncle told the court under cross-examination that the former Orlando Pirates captain had left his cellphone at home that day and his wife went through it, sending messages to people.

He said to his knowledge she had sent the girl a message saying: ”My wife has gone to Durban.”

The girl and a friend then apparently SMSed her back, saying they wanted to go to the movies.

Vilakazi’s wife then told them to come over to the house.

She sent someone to fetch them, as they claimed not to know the way. When they arrived, she locked them in a room, waiting for Vilakazi, nicknamed ”Tso”, to return.

The uncle would not speculate further under questioning by magistrate Naomi Manaka how the fact that sexual intercourse had taken place became known.

The girl, whose cross-examination in camera ended on Tuesday, told the court that if Vilakazi’s wife had not found out about the rape, the secret would have died with her.

Defence lawyer Ike Motloung said the girl’s psychological report stated she had become angry on another occasion when Vilakazi’s wife had SMSed her, pretending to be him.

The wife said, ”I can’t talk to you because my wife is here,” and the girl responded, ”Do you want me to tell your wife what you did to me?”, said Motloung.

The uncle said it appeared Vilakazi then confessed to his wife that he had slept with the girl.

The hearing continues. — Sapa