More than 1 000 people turned up at the Pinetown Magistrate's Court in Durban on Friday to protest at the trial of five men accused of gang raping a 21-year old woman while her father was held at gunpoint.
However, unbeknown to the protesters and the media, the five had already appeared in court on Thursday and were refused bail.
The 21-year-old woman was gang raped in a dense sugarcane plantation in Durban's Hillcrest suburb on March 2 while her father was held at gunpoint nearby. The two had been fishing at a local dam when they were accosted by seven men.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Danelia Veldhuizen confirmed that the five men had appeared in court on Thursday.
'Slow death for rapists'
She said the five men had been refused bail and were remanded in custody at Durban's Westville prison until their next court appearance on March 20.
Veldhuizen confirmed that two men were still at large.
Both Veldhuizen and police spokesperson Superintendent Vincent Mdunge denied unconfirmed reports circulating among protesters that the men had also been arrested for raping a six-year old boy.
Mdunge said: "There is no such case at the (Hillcrest police) station and nobody has been arrested for such a case."
All roads to the Pinetown Magistrate's Court were blocked off with protesters, their cars and in some instances their motorcycles.
Some carried posters, which read "No bail for rapists" and "Slow death for rapists".
When the crowd learnt the case had already been heard, they began making their way to the Hillcrest police station, about 20 kilometres away.
There was a heavy police presence quietly monitoring the protest, but there were no immediate reports of damage or arrests.
One of the protesters, Michelle van Heerden said: "We are really disappointed in the government. The death penalty should be reinstated." - Sapa
Unknown "baby girl" Gloomy
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