THE Khayelitsha community is reeling from shock following a gruesome act in which a woman was gang-raped and then suffocated with sand while going to the toilet.

The heinous crime has rocked the community of Endloveni, Khayelitsha, who yesterday marched to Harare police station demanding tough action against criminals.

Lihle Ngwendu, 20, was at a braai with friends last Friday when she went outside to the bushes to relieve herself. She was allegedly attacked by four men who raped her, then filled her mouth, ears and nose with sand and suffocated her.

A search for Ngwendu was abandoned when the group thought she might have left for home.

Community leader Moses Meuwako said her lifeless body was found by a child in the early hours of Saturday .

One suspect has been arrested, while the other three are still on the run.

The suspect appeared in the Khayelitsha magistrate's court and was remanded in custody until September 30.

Magistrate G Harmse said he would not grant the suspect bail because the community was outraged by the crime and that he faced three other murder charges.

About 250 angry community members protested outside the court, chanting songs like "No bail for rapists, we are tired of this".

Meuwako told Sowetan: "We are here because we want to make sure that these men do not get bail. This is a terrible crime they have committed."