A 29-year-old man is accused of breaking into a Rhodes University residence and raping a woman — while he was out on bail on a previous rape charge.
The man appeared in the Grahamstown High Court on Tuesday.
The man, from Port Elizabeth, told the court through his lawyer, John Korkie, that he was unfit to attend trial as he needed medical attention for a gunshot wound to his left arm.
He said he had been wounded in a shoot-out with the police when he was arrested.
The man faces two charges of rape, one of housebreaking with the intention to commit robbery, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. He is also accused of housebreaking with intent to steal, and theft at Rhodes, on July 1 2006.
Korkie asked for the trial to be delayed until Thursday, and the state agreed.
State advocate Jan Engelbrecht said he would make arrangements for the accused to see the district surgeon on Wednesday.
The man is accused of breaking into a flat in Port Elizabeth’s Central suburb on October 15 2005, where he allegedly raped a 27-year-old woman. He is also alleged to have stolen a Sony PlayStation.
While out on bail, he is alleged to have broken into one of the residences at Rhodes University on July 1 2006, where he allegedly raped a 23-year-old woman.
He allegedly also robbed her and her sister of two digital cameras, three cellphones, and R1 500 in cash. – Sapa