The alleged sexual assault victims of the late philanthropist and stockbroker Sidney Frankel had their dignity violated by a section in the Criminal Procedure Act which prevents their complaints from being prosecuted after 20 years of the event. According to a TimesLIVE report, this is the view of Anton Katz SC‚ counsel for eight people who claim Frankel sexually assaulted them when they were between seven and 15 during the 1970s and 1980s.

It is alleged Frankel used his fingers to penetrate some of the girl victims. Frankel passed away in March aged 68. They only reported the alleged incidents after 20 years of them occurring. The eight are challenging the constitutionality of Section 18 of the Act‚ in that it bars the right to prosecute all sexual offences‚ other than rape‚ after a lapse of 20 years after the offence had been perpetrated.

Two of the alleged victims were present in the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) to hear their application yesterday. Katz told Acting Judge Clare Hartford that the section meant children who were subjected to rape were given different treatment in law to other victims of sexual assault. ‘This legislation is irrational. This is an absurd piece of legislation,’ he said.

Full TimesLIVE report