/ 3 April 2007

Gospel singer in court for rape

The trial of South African gospel singer Sipho Lucas Xlale, accused of raping a 16-year-old pregnant girl, was postponed in the Garankuwa Magistrate’s Court on Monday, the South African Broadcasting Corporation news reported.

The 55-year-old Xlale was expected to make a formal bail application on Tuesday.

Xlale, also known as ”Mojeremane”, was arrested last week on five charges of rape.

The girl met Xlale through a radio programme earlier this year on which he gave out his contact details, offering to help ”needy and destitute” people.

The girl called the singer and they made an appointment to meet. During her visit to the artist’s office, the girl was allegedly raped.

The two met a number of times thereafter, and she was allegedly raped on all those occasions.

The girl was two months pregnant when she first met the artist and was now four months pregnant, according to the police. – Sapa