Alleged rapist 'hid in jail'

2007-10-09 21:11

Pietermaritzburg - The head of Pietermaritzburg's new prison was on Tuesday subpoenaed to explain to the High Court why an alleged gang-rapist of Mormon missionaries could not be found and did not join two fellow accused in the dock.

Prison head Msizi Patrick Dladla told the court on Tuesday that accused Siyabonga Nzimande, 20, had been involved in a massive brawl and had to be segregated in the prison.

He had also lost his registration card and did not respond when his name was called. He had to be given a new registration card.

Dladla said he would be kept in the hospital section so that he could be easily found.

Co-accused Wonderboy Mthembu, 18, limped into court on Monday and complained that he had been assaulted. A district surgeon recommended that he be sent for an X-ray.

Raped while unconscious

Nzimande, Mthembu and co-accused Bongani Ntombela, 23, are on trial for gang raping two Mormon sisters who were doing missionary work on the Kwazulu-Natal South Coast. The woman were dragged off a road into a bush where they were raped by four gangsters. One of them was shot when she resisted and was raped while unconscious.

The State alleges that each of the gang are guilty of eight rapes as each remained close by during each rape, kept watch and prevented the women from resisting and escaping.

The rapes and robberies of other people were perpetrated during the alleged gang's crime spree in June last year.

A fourth alleged member of the gang, Lindelani Luthuli, pleaded guilty to most of the charges in the Ramsgate High Court but backtracked before sentence.

He must apply for his not guilty plea to be accepted by the court.

- SAPA