A former Hankey farm worker has pleaded not guilty in the Port Elizabeth High Court to a farm attack in which a woman was shot and raped in front of her children in March last year.
32-year old Sebenzile Simane also faces a string of other charges that include house-breaking, kidnapping, causing children to witness a sexual offence, attempted murder, robbery and the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Judge Olav Ronaasen ordered that none of the complainants in the matter be identified in media reports. The location of the farm is also being withheld.
Simane pleaded not guilty to 17 counts on Monday. He put his hands together in prayer before walking up to the dock. He also became irate with photographers taking his picture but later smiled and laughed.
The former farm worker who was a lone attacker, entered the farmhouse on March 23 last year, by firing several shots through a glass door. The children ran to their mother’s bedroom where Simane fired more shots.
According to the indictment, the mother was shot in the buttocks trying to shield her children. He allegedly threatened to shoot one of the children and also demanded access to the safe.
He ushered them into the living room where he allegedly wanted to force the 15-year-old son to have sex with his mother.
She pleaded for this not to happen and he instead took her to a bedroom where he raped her for the first time.
After collecting items in the home, Simane took the woman, in her vehicle, to an ATM to withdraw cash and she then managed to escape.
Friends and family members were at court on Monday to support the woman who was expected to testify. However, after some delays, she was not called to the stand.
The woman is expected to testify on Tuesday.
Afriforum counsellor, Magda Coetzee, who provides support to complainants in farm attack cases, described the mother as an “iron lady”.
The trial continues on Tuesday.
-African News Agency (ANA)
