Released Nota Baloyi says “when you’re in prison you think you might be raped”

Controversial South African music executive Nota Baloyi has confessed that he feared he might be sexually assaulted while he was in prison recently.

Only a few days after his early release from prison for defying a court order, Baloyi found himself in court again on Friday, as the inquest into his rape allegations failed to take off.

Nota, who released from Sun City early last week, appeared at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court to face rape accusations filed by actress Itumeleng Bokaba.

In an interview on the sidelines of that court appearance, Baloyi said he had fears he would be sexually assaulted in prison.

“When you’re in prison you think you might be raped. Fortunately that didn’t happen to me. You are able to trade things like slices of bread, so if you give them soap, they iron your clothes. And I had spare Sunlight. My case has been postponed to February 26,” he said.

Regarding his latest court appearance, Nota requested that the court review a social media post and video in which his accuser speaks about how the alleged rape affected her income and mental wellness.

However, the case was postponed for replying to affidavit submissions on 13 December 2024.

Nota said the entire ordeal had taken a financial toll on him.

“It’s a very costly exercise but hopefully it will be done soon. I was in prison and therefore could not reply or file my affidavits in time so they’ve given [me] an extension until December 30 to file the reply to the affidavits and the indexing needs to be submitted on January 21, and the matter will be heard on January 26,” he told TshisaLIVE.

In a separate interview, Nota said he was eager to prove his innocence.

“I just want to prove my innocence and for this to end. It has been one of the worst experiences of my life,” he told ZiMoja.