Rhodes Park murder, gang rape trial gallery packed

A WOMAN could not hold back tears in the Johannesburg High Court yesterday, when the judge went through the evidence of what transpired when her husband was ordered to wade into a lake by a group of men, where he drowned before they raped her.

The woman was seated next to her friend, who suffered the same with her on October 17, 2015. They were flanked by social workers and Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane.

The gallery was packed with family and journalists waiting to hear the fate of three men who were alleged to be part of a gang that accosted and robbed two couples taking a stroll at Rhodes Park in Johannesburg.

Mduduzi Lawrence Mathibela, 33, Edmore Ndlovu, 24, and Thabo Nkala, 26, have been charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances, rape and murder. Prosecutor Monde Mbaqa previously argued the men should face the same charges because they acted together. Only Mathibela’s DNA was found on one of the victims, which tied him to the rape.

According to the charge sheet, they were armed with a gun and a knife and forced their victims to lie on the ground. They allegedly raped the women and forced their partners to undress and made them wade into the lake, where they drowned. The gang stole the couples’ clothes, jewellery, and a cellphone. The trio pleaded not guilty.

The State has relied on CCTV footage to pin the men to the crime. There was also an informer who identified the men on the footage, which led to their arrests. The matter was adjourned to today. – ANA