Two of the alleged rapists arrested in connection with the gang rape of a matric pupil at a University of Pretoria hostel were identified as relatives of a former high-profile politician, SABC radio news reported on Thursday.
The two were said to be the grandsons of a prominent Cabinet minister in the former government of national unity. The SABC said the former minister had confirmed that the students were related to him.
One former and three current University of Pretoria students were arrested on Thursday for the rape, which took place a week ago as others looked on, the institution and police announced.
One student, who dropped out of university last year, was arrested at a bar in Hatfield shortly after midnight, the second in his room on the campus, and the third handed himself over to Brooklyn police, said Pretoria area commissioner Amon Mashigo.
The fourth man, who is alleged to have taken pictures while the 18-year-old was raped by three, handed himself over in the presence of his lawyer.
Police said the woman was given a lift by three men in Hatfield at about 4am last Friday. She said she had accompanied her brother to a nightclub, but he left her behind and promised to fetch her later.
Instead of taking her home, the three allegedly took her to the Maroela hostel and took turns raping her.
According to university spokesperson Edwin Smith the victim alleged that several hostel residents looked on.
The matter was reported to police on Wednesday evening, Mashigo said.
The four men were aged between 20 and 23, and would appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
”There are allegations that the girl’s drink had been spiked and that photographs of her were taken during an incident, but all that is subject to an investigation,” he added.
Police were investigating charges of rape and indecent assault.
Asked whether others might be charged as accessories for looking on as the woman was raped, police spokesperson Inspector Percy Morokane said: ”More arrests might follow.”
Describing it as an ”absolutely awful experience”, Smith said the three students apprehended for the crime would be suspended from the university before the end of the day and faced an internal disciplinary inquiry.
Should other students be implicated, they too would be suspended.
The university said in a statement it would launch an investigation at Maroela residence into the cause of the alleged incident.
”It is not only one or two students alleged to have been involved, but a number of them to a greater or lesser extent,” Smith said. ”We are looking to understand how and why this could have happened, why nobody reported it, and what we can do to ensure there is no repeat.”
The university said it had provided support to the victim and her family — convincing them to lay a criminal charge. It has also pledged continued assistance, such as the provision of counselling.
It is understood that she was given anti-retroviral treatment after the rape, Smith said. — Sapa