Sonke Gender Justice is outraged to learn that a South African attorney Carel Benjamin Schoeman, who is charged with 26 counts of rape, exploitation of children, human trafficking and kidnapping among others, is still practicing law. Schoeman, who is accused of buying a teenage girl from her mother and using her as a sex slave, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
“The levels of sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls remain very high in South Africa. It is totally unacceptable when even officers of the courts are caught committing such brutality’’ said Bafana Khumalo, Co-Executive Director, Sonke Gender Justice.
According to the Legal Practice Council, Schoeman is still registered as an attorney, practising under CBS Attorneys, this is despite the criminal case against him, as well as other three active complaints against the attorney, such as failure to account, failure to attend to a matter diligently, and bringing the Law profession into disrepute.
“There is no doubt that Schoeman’s behaviour has brought the professional body’s reputation into disrepute. At the very least, the LPC should place him on a precautionary suspension until his matters are resolved as per applicable policies concerning such behaviour. Allowing him to continue practices potentially exposes innocent victims to his unprofessional conducts” Khumalo urges.
The co-accused, who is the mother of the victim, has also pleaded not guilty. She has been charged with 72 counts of sexual exploitation of children, rape, human trafficking, kidnapping, child abuse and creating child pornography. The accused is alleged to have forced her daughters to have sex with several clients in exchange for money on numerous occasions.
Sonke calls on the criminal justice system to ensure that all those who are involved in these crimes are held accountable, and that a strong message be sent by the courts that such brutality is unacceptable.
Issued by Sonke Gender Justice.
For media enquiries contact
Kgomotso Mophulane, Communications & Strategic Information Manager, Sonke Gender Justice on kgomotso@genderjustice.org.za or 0835196187.
Bafana Khumalo, Co-Executive Director, Sonke Gender Justice on bafana@genderjustice.org.za or 082 5784479.
Note to editors
Sonke is a South African-based non-profit organisation working throughout Africa. We believe women and men, girls and boys can work together to resist patriarchy, advocate for gender justice, and achieve gender transformation. For media releases, reports and news visit https://genderjustice.org.za/ and https://genderjustice.org.za/newsletter-signup/
