Pumas Rugby
An allegation of rape against the former Blue Bulls under-21 player, Khwezi Mafu, has been hanging over his head since 2017 with the trial date pushed back further to next year.
Twenty-four-year-old Mafu briefly appeared in the Gqeberha Magistrate's Court on Monday as the trial was expected to get underway.
The State asked for the matter to be postponed to July next year and Mafu's attorney, Danie Gouws asked the Magistrate to put it on record that this would be the last postponement granted to the State.
In March 2019, the case was struck off the roll as some state witnesses could not be traced.
The matter was placed back on the court roll based on a directive from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Mafu is accused of raping an 18-year-old girl after a night of drinking at a social gathering at a flat in Central back in December 2017.
He pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and one of robbery earlier this year.
Mafu has maintained that the sex was consensual.
A medical report presented to the court by the Prosecution back in 2018 painted a grim picture of the alleged victim's injuries during the alleged rape.
Mafu, who now plays for the Pumas, spent two months at the North End Correctional Centre before being granted bail of R10 000 by the Magistrate Court in New Brighton.
His bail has been extended until his next court appearance on 21 July 2023.
