Roses United player and his co-accused in the CPUT rape case were back in the Wellington Magistrates’ Court on Monday as their bail application was postponed after prosecutors added more rape charges, Cape {town} Etc reports.
According to Mondstuk Media, the state told the court that the pair now face four rape charges, which their defence team only learned about moments before the hearing.
Elton Rochert, who represents the accused, asked for the delay after the late update. The hearing will continue on Tuesday morning.
Outside the court, family members and supporters gathered as the case drew attention across the Boland rugby community. Mondstuk Media reported that the complainant, a CPUT student, had recently celebrated her 21st birthday and is deeply traumatised.
Her aunt told reporters the family was still trying to process the impact of the case.
‘She is very soft,’ the aunt said. Another short remark from the family echoed the mood outside court: ‘No, is no.’
South Africa continues to grapple with high levels of sexual violence, with thousands of cases reported each year, although experts from the Helen Suzman Foundation say many incidents still go unreported. Cases involving multiple accused are not uncommon, with research indicating that group offences form part of broader patterns of gender-based violence in the country .
The report also said the accused had been in Allandale Prison since last week. No official comment had yet been received from Boland Rugby.
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