The trial against a Gqeberha man who allegedly raped Gauteng businesswoman Andy Kawa has been transferred to the High Court.
The accused, who cannot be named until he has pleaded, was arrested in January this year, more than 13 years after the offence had taken place.
On 9 December 2010, Kawa was abducted while walking along Kings Beach, held hostage, and gang raped for a period of 15 to 16 hours.
Police said DNA evidence linked the accused to the case.
It is unclear whether the accused will plead guilty and enter a plea agreement with the state at this stage.
He is currently still waiting for his legal representation to be finalised.
The accused abandoned his bail at his first court appearance in the Gqeberha Magistrate's Court.
Kawa is suing the South African Police Service (SAPS) for damages just short of R6 million.
In April 2022, the Apex Court granted her leave to appeal against a decision by the Supreme Court of Appeals (SCA) to dismiss the judgment by the Gqeberha High Court, which had ruled in her favour.
Kawa took the Minister to court for damages in 2013, claiming an alleged failure on their part to conduct a proper investigation and to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book.
The DNA sample of the bush dweller was already in the system for possession of stolen goods and he was positively linked to Kawa's rape in 2023.
Police made a breakthrough in the case in January, finding the suspect sleeping under a tree in Summerstrand.
The case against her alleged rapist was remanded to 17 May.
