Angry aunties gathered at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where the bail hearing for alleged child rapist Nicholas ‘Nico’ Maré continued.
The boss of Tariro Model Management was supported by a group of women who identified themselves as models in his employ.
The fashion photographer continued his bid to get out of the mang after being charged with with rape, sexual assault, the creation of child porn and the sexual exploitation of children.
Maré was arrested last week after a 14-year-old girl from Eerste River told her family that she had been raped in his studio in Loop Street during a photo shoot in June.
The teen said she was left traumatised after being forced to engage in humiliating sex acts for nearly six hours in his studio.
14-year-old girl from Eerste River. File photo
She said as she prepared to pose for pictures for her portfolio, Maré allegedly made her strip naked and masturbated as he photographed her.
He allegedly encouraged her to watch porn, saying it would make her sexier on photos and told her she made him more horny than his wife.
As the bail hearing continued, women from the Cape Flats Women’s Network expressed their disgust at the group of models who came out to support Maré outside court.
Caroline Peters from Bridgetown says: “I don’t know why women support a perpetrator of rape. Hoe kan ons as vrouens mekaar afstaan?
“ En watte modelling agency is die? Kyk sy f***** Facebook page, daai is nie ’n modelling agency nie, dis net ’n klomp kinders wat ge-exploit word.”
The group of models could be heard snickering at Peters.
Protest outside court. Picture: Monique Duval
Popular crime fighter and women’s rights activist Roegshanda Pascoe says Maré makes vulnerable young girls believe they will be famous.
“This was to groom and rape them. There has been a history in the modelling industries how our women were exploited and misled into becoming famous; they must give their bodies and here it has come to light. Our parents who are supporting this man with their children should be ashamed,” she said.
The models declined to comment when approached by the Daily Voice.
The case was postponed to 14 July for arguments and judgement on the bail hearing and Maré was sent back to Pollsmoor Prison.