Bail application postponed

THE bail application of three Woodlands boys was yesterday adjourned to January 18 for a legal aid attorney to be appointed.

The boys, aged 14, 17 and 20, are charged with the gang rape and murder of a 14-yearold girl in the Mountain Rise cemetery on July 30 last year.

The two juvenile brothers and their 20-year-old co-accused, who cannot be named until he has pleaded to the rape charge facing him, are charged with the gang rape and murder of Mabongile Xaba and of stealing her cellphone on the day in question.

The 17-year-old youth faces two additional charges of murder and robbery arising from an incident in which a man, identified only as “Rasta” on the charge sheet, was stabbed to death and robbed of his cellphone in Balhambra Way on November 5 last year. – Pietermaritzburg Bureau SANDILE Innocent Buthelezi, the male nurse accused of raping a mentally ill patient, has been granted bail.

Buthelezi, who has since been suspended from Osindisweni Hospital in Verulam, north of Durban, was granted bail of R2 500 at the Verulam Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

In his affidavit handed to the court, Buthelezi said he intended pleading not guilty and was in a state of good health.

Prosecutor Nqobile Masinga said the State were not opposed to bail and handed in an affidavit from the investigating officer, who also did not oppose bail.

Buthelezi is to report to Verulam police station every Friday as part of his bail conditions.

The 31-year-old, unmarried father-of-three was employed as a nurse at the hospital when he allegedly raped a mentally ill woman in the showers on Christmas Day.

It is alleged that Buthelezi pushed the patient, 28, against the sink and ordered her to be quiet before raping her.

His lawyer, Pam Shandu, said Buthelezi had no previous convictions and no travel documents.

He reportedly ran away from the hospital after being questioned by police.

The matter was postponed to February 20.