The state has a bona fide belief that the alleged rape that took place at the University of Pretoria last week was not the first, the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court heard on Monday.
Material evidence in this regard still had to be gathered, said prosecutor Brandon Lawrence.
”I am not lying or misleading the court,” he said.
But defence lawyers have rejected the notion.
Defence lawyer Deon Cloete, appearing for two of the four men accused of the gang rape, argued that the state was on ”a fishing expedition”.
The court was adjourned shortly after noon to consider the state’s application for a seven-day postponement of proceedings for further investigation. The defence opposed this application.
The four men arrested in connection with the rape have not pleaded to the charges and so cannot be named.
Students from the university packed the courtroom on Monday morning to attend the appearance on rape charges of four hostel mates.
Most of them were wearing Maroela residence jackets. The alleged crime took place at that men’s hostel.
One former and three current University of Pretoria students were arrested on Thursday in connection with the alleged gang rape of an 18-year-old matric pupil. Two of the students are related to a senior apartheid-era Cabinet minister who was also a member of the government of national unity.
One of the four dropped out of university last year and was arrested at a Hatfield bar, a second was taken in at his hostel room on the campus while a third handed himself over to the Brooklyn police.
The fourth student, who is alleged to have taken pictures while the schoolgirl was raped by the three, handed himself over in the presence of his lawyer.
Family members of the former Cabinet minister were also in the court on Monday morning.
According to Department of Justice sources three of the students passed polygraph tests taken during the weekend.
Police said last week 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.
When her brother did not return the girl got a lift offer from the students, but 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.
The students allegedly spiked her drink. — Sapa