SEVEN more suspects have appeared in court for the Krugersdorp rape case.
The men, aged between 23 and 48, appeared in the Krugersdorp Magistrates Court in Mogale City yesterday, 11 August, on charges of rape, sexual assault and robery with aggravating circumstances.
They provisionally abandoned their bail application and the matter was postponed to 28 September for further investigation.
They have been linked to a shocking incident last month, during which eight women were allegedly gang-raped and robbed by zama zamas in West Village while shooting a music video.
The number of people charged for the crime currently stands at 14. National Prosecuting Authority’s spokeswoman Phindi Mjonondwane said the possibility of more people being linked to the crime could not be ruled out.
She said the victims were still busy with identity parades.
On Wednesday, 10 August, the court heard one of the accused could be as young as 15 but a radiography test confirmed he was 16. Mjonondwane said one of the accused was a minor and would have a separate trial.
“He will now be undergoing a preliminary inquiry expected to happen from today, 12 August,” she said.
Mjonondwane said an inquiry is attended by a magistrate, prosecutors, the minor’s parents if they were available and a legal representative.
Speaking about other zama zamas who were arrested during raids conducted in Krugersdorp the previous week, On Wednesday, 10 August, the court heard one of the accused could be as young as 15 but a radiography test confirmed he was 16. Mjonondwane said that 19 of those were minors.
She said suspects had been appearing in courts across Gauteng, and all were charged with contravention of the Migration Act.
