The four men stand accused of four counts of robbery, three counts of kidnapping three counts of rape as well as two counts of attempted murder and one count of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The case against the men, two aged 26 and the others aged 23 and 19, has been postponed until 2 June.
On four separate occasions in July and August the men attacked five people, three single women and one couple.
On the first occasion on 6 July a woman travelling alone when two of the accused appeared from the boot, blindfolded her and tied her up. The men allegedly assaulted her and forced her to reveal the PIN for her bank accounts. She was then allegedly raped by the driver before being thrown down an embankment.
On the second incidence on 2 August the same man allegedly picked up a woman from Montecasino before stopping and pulling a knife at her. He then allegedly forced her to give him her PIN codes for her bank accounts before dropping the woman off at a mall. He allegedly made off with R11 000 in cash as well as her other belongings.
A few days later, on 6 August, a woman was also robbed of her belongings. She was picked up by the same man while another of the accused appeared from the boot and tried to strangle her. The woman manged to open the door and escape from the car.
In the last incident, a couple was picked up by the same driver while two of the accused hid in the boot. One of the accused allegedly stabbed the man and assaulted the woman before pushing them both into the boot. The couple were them taken to the fourth-accused’s house where the couple were held for a few hours. The driver allegedly raped the woman and forced the couple to transfer their money into another account.
Ulrich Roux, the lawyer representing the victims said that his clients were looking forward to the trial beginning. He also added, “It’s great to see how the state and the police have worked together to ensure, firstly, that the four accused were captured, that they were kept in custody and that the matter is now going to the high court.”
