THE bail hearing of two guards accused of rape is set to resume in the Mhala Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 19 December.
The accused, aged 23 and 32, who are attached to a security company in Mpumalanga, face two counts of rape and two of kidnapping each.
The two are accused of raping two teenage girls, aged 17 and 18, as well as their boyfriends 18 and 21.
On Thursday, 14 December, Public Prosecutor Rhulani Hlatshwayo said the state opposed bail, saying the two face serious charges.
She said the 32-year-old accused had failed to present exceptional circumstances before court to be admitted on bail. This was after the defence lawyer, Deacorn Sibuyi, argued that his client would plead not guilty to the charges against him during trial.
"I was not surprised when I was arrested. The victims quickly pointed me out during the identity parade because they spotted my photos on circulation on Facebook and TikTok. So it's not true that I was running away from police on the day in question. If I was, why did I hand myself to the police?
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"What really shocked me is seeing these EFF members baying for my blood for no apparent reason. I'm a full member of the EFF but today they've totally turned against me. I'm innocent and pleading with this court to release me on bail, and I won't evade trial. I want to go and work for my three children," said the accused.
The state called investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Norah Dumisa who took the witness stand.
She said accused used the Cue Risk Security Services duty car with a white lamp on top to kidnap and rape the victims on the street in Thulamahashe near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga between 11 and 13 September at around 7pm.
She said the accused confessed to the crime but refused to show the police his home or share his physical address. She said releasing them on bail would cause an uproar in the community.
Ward 31 EFF chairman Prince Matlhabane rubbished the accused's allegations.
"He's liar, and not our party member or a fighter. EFF is not home for rapists and kidnappers who go around and terrorising innocent people," he said.
