The trial where a local doctor, Justice Mulaudzi, has to face rape charges, had a sequel at the Sibasa Regional Court on Tuesday when one of the alleged victims broke down while testifying.

Everyone who had come to attend the trial was asked to leave the court room as the victim could not continue. After the court had been evacuated, the trial continued. The 33-year-old woman from Makwarela, who is witness number 8 for the state, had just started testifying when she broke down.

The previous day, Dr Milingoni Makhwanya, who had examined the Malamulele victim at Tshilidzini hospital, testified. On the same day, one of the alleged victims, a 22-year-old woman from Nzhelele, who was allegedly raped at a surgery in Makhuvha, testified for the most part of the day. Her husband also testified.

Mulaudzi, a clinical manager at Hayani Hospital, is standing trial on four counts of rape. He is alleged to have raped two of his patients during consultations at a private practice at Ha-Makhuvha, outside Thohoyandou. The incidents are alleged to have taken place two years ago.

The Malamulele case was opened while Mulaudzi was working as a doctor at the Malamulele Hospital in 2006. The case, which was subsequently withdrawn at the time, due to a lack of evidence, was reinstated this year after persistent complaints by the victim that the case had not been handled properly.

On Tuesday, the case was postponed to 6 May 2013.

The presiding magistrate in the case is Mike Coetzee; Adv Christopher Burke represents the State, while Adv Essau Ngwaa is representing Mulaudzi after his former attorney, Adv Anton Ramaano, left him, citing a lack of consultation.