HLANGANANI – Serious Makhubele (18) of Olifantshoek Village briefly appeared in the Hlanganani Magistrate's Court on a charge of rape.

The incident relating to the case took place at Olifantshoek Village during the night of last Thursday, 4 July.

According to the spokesperson of the police in the Lowveld, Insp. Hasani Mabaso, the accused was drinking beer at a local shebeen when the incident took place. The statement indicates that while he was drinking, two young girls came and sat next to the accused.

While drinking the accused allegedly requested the victim to accompany him to the nearby bottle store. The victim refused. The victim's friend vanished from the scene and went to the "shebeen queen".

Realising that the victim was alone outside the house, the accused allegedly went closer to her and threatened to cut her throat with a broken beer bottle.

He then ordered the victim to accompany him to the surrounding bushes saying he would kill her if she did not obey his instructions. On arrival in the bushes the accused ordered the victim to take off her clothes, an instruction that she vehemently refused to carry out.

The accused then allegedly pushed the victim down and undressed her forcefully. He then allegedly raped her repeatedly. The matter was reported to the police the following morning and the accused was arrested later that afternoon.

He appeared in court last Saturday. His bail application was refused and the case was postponed until next Monday, 15 July.