The public gallery of the Modimolle Magistrate's Court was packed on Friday morning ahead of the appearance of four men accused of torturing and raping a woman.
Johan Kotze, Andries Sithole, Peter Mohlako and Sello Frans Mphaka are accused of torturing and raping Kotze's estranged wife Ina Bonette in January this year. This was the first time the four appeared in court together.
Kotze hired the three to work in the garden of his rented home in Modimolle. On January 3 he allegedly forced them at gunpoint to rape his ex-wife and mutilate her with objects including nails, a screwdriver, and an angle-grinder. Kotze lured his stepson to the house and allegedly shot and killed him.
A small group of ANC Women's League members stood quietly outside the court holding posters that read “no bail for murderers and rapists”.
Kotze previously chose not to apply for bail. His co-accused were denied bail after they failed to prove there were exceptional circumstances for them to get it. – Sapa