Two Ikageng teachers found guilty of rape and awaiting sentencing have again asked for a postponement at the Potchefstroom regional court on Tuesday.
Judge Ivy Serei has granted a last postponement of the case and the court will sit again on 22 November. She agreed with the state prosecutor, Advocate Ditri Leijenaar that the two are delaying the court.
The teachers’ attorney, Johan Le Grange has asked for six to eight weeks for a psychiatric report to be compiled. He further asked for more time for a correctional supervision report.
Leijenaar says they are now dragging the process out too long and requested that it becomes final. She says this will be the fourth postponement in the five-month long case after the two were found guilty of raping the 27-year-old woman.
The two introduced a new defence advocate in June and have now gone back to their initial defence attorney, Le Grange.
The teachers first appeared on 19 October last year and were each granted bail of R1 000.
According to the complainant’s statement at the time, she was dating one of the accused. The three of them (her boyfriend and his cousin) went out for drinks.
While she admitted that alcohol had been consumed, it had been done in moderation, she said. The three of them then went home for a few more drinks.
The woman believes she must have blacked out as she does not know what happened thereafter. According to her, she woke up with her boyfriend’s cousin on top of her and her naked boyfriend lying next to them. The boyfriend later alleged that it was he who was having sexual intercourse with the complainant, a claim that she categorically denied.
She immediately went to the police station and laid a charge of rape. Both were arrested.
