A sobbing 32-year-old man arrested last week following the rape of four young girls in Dimbaza made a brief appearance in court yesterday.
The matter was postponed until tomorrow when he will appear again.
Due to the nature of the crime the man cannot be named until he pleads.
He appeared in connection with at least two of the rapes of the four young girls from the tight-knit community who were allegedly raped repeatedly on separate occasions by an unknown number of assailants.
The Daily Dispatch reported yesterday that medical tests on three eight-year-olds and an 11-year-old showed they had endured repeated violations.
Last week two of the girls told social workers, nurses, doctors and police officers they were forced to watch pornography while all four alleged they were given money by their rapists.
A 20-year-old suspect was arrested last week Monday but was released on Tuesday due a lack of evidence. He later fled the township after residents bayed for his blood.
The Dispatch reported that a 22-year-old man was arrested on Thursday. However, the suspect is in fact 32. Police spokeswoman Lieutenant Siphokazi Mawisa said when arrested the man had given police the wrong age.
Another two men were arrested yesterday in connection with the rapes. Mawisa said they would appear in court “soon”.
During court proceedings state prosecutor Cikizwa Maqiza said the 32-year-old suspect was facing a schedule six offence which was classified a serious criminal offence.
Maqiza said the case should be postponed so a legal aid application could be made for the suspect. Magistrate David Madiba agreed.
“We are very happy. We didn’t know there were more suspects,” said Athabile Toyi, a resident, referring to yesterday’s arrest of the two men.
“The station commander has now taken over these serious cases following our meeting with him. We don’t just want arrests but we want justice to take it course.”
Sobbing rape suspect remanded Man in custody
The matter was postponed until tomorrow when he will appear again.
Due to the nature of the crime the man cannot be named until he pleads.
He appeared in connection with at least two of the rapes of the four young girls from the tight-knit community who were allegedly raped repeatedly on separate occasions by an unknown number of assailants.
The Daily Dispatch reported yesterday that medical tests on three eight-year-olds and an 11-year-old showed they had endured repeated violations.
Last week two of the girls told social workers, nurses, doctors and police officers they were forced to watch pornography while all four alleged they were given money by their rapists.
A 20-year-old suspect was arrested last week Monday but was released on Tuesday due a lack of evidence. He later fled the township after residents bayed for his blood.
The Dispatch reported that a 22-year-old man was arrested on Thursday. However, the suspect is in fact 32. Police spokeswoman Lieutenant Siphokazi Mawisa said when arrested the man had given police the wrong age.
Another two men were arrested yesterday in connection with the rapes. Mawisa said they would appear in court “soon”.
During court proceedings state prosecutor Cikizwa Maqiza said the 32-year-old suspect was facing a schedule six offence which was classified a serious criminal offence.
Maqiza said the case should be postponed so a legal aid application could be made for the suspect. Magistrate David Madiba agreed.
“We are very happy. We didn’t know there were more suspects,” said Athabile Toyi, a resident, referring to yesterday’s arrest of the two men.
“The station commander has now taken over these serious cases following our meeting with him. We don’t just want arrests but we want justice to take it course.”
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