Seven mozambicans among those accused of mass rape
The South African police have confirmed that there are seven Mozambicans among the 84 suspects accused of raping eight models in the South African town of Krugersdorp last Thursday.
According to a report in Tuesday’s issue of the independent daily “O Pais”, the suspects have been presented to a court in Krugersdorp, but the Mozambican authorities have not yet been notified.
The suspects are accused of raping eight of the 12 women who were recording a music video in an abandoned Krugersdorp mine. As the police moved in to arrest them, two of the alleged rapists were killed in the struggle.
According to South African police commissioner Fred Kekana, in addition to the seven Mozambicans, the suspects include, among others, seven Zimbabweans, four from Lesotho, a Malawian and a Cameroonian. All are believed to be informal miners, who are said to have terrorised the local community for years.
The South African authorities are attempting to ascertain the degree of involvement in the crime of each of the men arrested. The forensic services have been ordered to work rapidly on DNA tests of the suspects.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has warned that this horrific crime must not be allowed to endanger the good relations between South Africa and Mozambique.
The ANC spokesperson in Gauteng province, Lesego Makhubela, said the mass rape “does not mean we should act violently towards our Mozambican brothers”.
In addition to rape, the suspects face charges of illegal mining, violation of immigration legislation, and possession of stolen goods.
