A Port Elizabeth couple charged with the rape of their 14-year-old foster daughter were denied bail in the city's magistrate's court on Tuesday.
In a lengthy judgement, magistrate Abigail Beeton, said there was a prima facie case against the 38-year-old man and 37-year-old woman from Rowallan Park who cannot be named.
They were arrested on the March 1 by investigators from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
In her judgement, magistrate Beeton said rape was a serious offence and was highly prevalent in the court's jurisdiction and also across the country.
She said there were no exceptional circumstances that would allow her to grant the couple bail nor would it serve the interest of justice.
Their case was postponed to the 10th of May for further investigation.
They are also likely to face further charges.
Meanwhile, a 47-year-old man who was arrested in Cape Town in connection with the rape of a nine year old child, made a brief court appearance on Tuesday.
He will also be charged along with the couple with the rape of the teenage foster child.
