Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament Masizole Mnqasela, pleaded not guilty to rape charges levelled against him in the Wynberg Regional Court in Cape Town on Monday.
The alleged victim, a 17-year-old girl, was cross-examined by the state and defence during the start of the trial, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Mnqasela was arrested in May last year for allegedly raping the girl at the parliamentary residential area in Pelican Park.
According to reports the girl spent the night at Mnqasela’s home where she was allegedly raped after refusing Mnqaela sex.
The trial will resume on March 23, while Mnqasela is out on R500 bail. — Sapa