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MAnother man who stands accused of raping two women has since come out to claim that one of the complainant opened a case against him because he did not have the agreed amount to pay her after the act.

Musawenkhosi Lukhele (23) of Malanda in the northern Hhohho made these allegations in his urgent bail application.

The women who were purportedly raped by the accused are aged 18 and 26. Lukhele has been slapped with two counts under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act 15/2018.

The Crown indicated that upon conviction, it would make an application to include Sibandze’s name in the National Register for Sex Offenders as provided for in terms of Section 56 of the SODV Act. In his bail application, Lukhele informed the court that he would plead not guilty to the charges. It was further his averment that he had a good defence to same as the first complainant in the matter consented but only that he did not have the agreed amount after the act.

“I submit that if admitted to bail, I will not abscond trial in particular because I cooperated with the police officers upon my arrest and throughout the investigations,” submitted the accused.

He also contended that if released on bail, he would not endanger the safety of the public or any particular person. The accused also told the court that in the event he was released on bail, he would not jeopardise the objectives or proper functioning of the criminal justice system or undermine public peace and security.

“I am advised and verily believe that all issues sanctioning a person’s liberty are by their very nature urgent in particular because I am a young man of 23 years and I have three dependents,” submitted Lukhele.

He further argued that he was a sickly with asthma and his continued incarceration would not only be detrimental to his health but also to his family at large.