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A man accused of kidnapping and assaulting his wife and five children, applied for bail in the Springs Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Investigating officer Rudolf Jansen told the court of the torture and assault of the children -- aged between two and 16.
The man's 11-year-old son alleged that his father had hung him from the wrists for two days using a rope.
When asked to be set free, his father used teargas on him.
He was also assaulted.
Reading from the young boy's medical report, Jansen told the court that the child had numerous scars on his body, one of which was a scar on the head which had come from being struck with a knobkerrie.
Jansen told the court in Afrikaans the house in which the family had been kept captive was in a dire state.
"There were live rats and rat droppings in the kitchen of the house." he said
There was also lots of pornographic material.
The accused faces charges of assault and kidnapping, attempted murder, rape and defeating the ends of justice.
Judgement in his bail is reserved for Thursday morning 9am.
