BOLOBEDU – Three young men, Jupiter Matome Maake (19), Oupa Aubrey Mathebula (19) and Lawrence Amos Mathebula have briefly appeared in the Bolobedu magistrate's court on Tuesday on a charge of rape. The incident relating to the case took place at Mokgwati village in the Ramusinyadi area last Thursday evening at about 19:30.

According to the spokesperson of the police in the Mopani Area, Capt Moatshe Ngoepe, the victim aged 16, was waiting for transport to Phalaborwa at the bus stop when the incident occurred. The statement indicates that six young men confronted the girl.

They allegedly threatened to kill her if she made any noise. They then grabbed her and pulled her to the nearby abandoned house. That is where they allegedly raped her one after the other throughout the night. The statement further indicates that the girl was let to go the following morning at about 05:00.

She reported the matter to the police later that morning. Three of the suspects were arrested at different places on Saturday morning. They appeared in the Bolobedu magistrate's court on Tuesday. They were not asked to plead.

The case was postponed to May 6. The accused will be in custody until the next court date as their application for bail was turned down. The search for the other three suspects was still on at the time of going to press and the police were confident that they will arrest them soon as they are known.