Reed Dance rape suspect in court
2008-09-18 08:03
Durban - One of two men accused of raping a girl participating in the Reed Dance ceremony in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, appeared briefly in a local magistrate's court on Wednesday, SABC news reported.
The man would remain in custody until his next court appearance on September 23, said police spokesperson Captain Vusi Mbatha.
The second man was still in hospital after being assaulted by angry residents who had caught the pair allegedly breaking into houses and stealing cellphones and radios, the broadcaster reported.
The 14-year-old Zulu maiden was participating in the Reed Dance ceremony at King Goodwill Zwelithini's Nkoyeni palace over the weekend when she was dragged outside and raped, the Mercury newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Mbatha said the Durban girl strayed from the group she was with and was forced outside by a group of men who then raped her.
- SAPA
