One accused yawned, one smirked and another continuously played with his beard as the trio were convicted, together with five others, of the brutal gang rape of two teenagers in Port Elizabeth in 2009.

Yesterday, in a short, to the point judgment in the Port Elizabeth High Court, Acting Judge Valerie Gqiba said the evidence against the men was overwhelming.

Thandile Msobolo, 25, Ayabulela Tyesi, 23, Sithembele Nokole, 25, Luyolo Mayekiso, 23, Masixole Bhungane, 23, and Hlumele Vinqi, 23 - all of Soweto-on-Sea - broke into a house in the area during the early hours of February 8 2009 where the two girls - aged 17 and 19 at the time - had spent the night.

The court had heard how the men kicked down the front door and grabbed the girls from behind a wardrobe, where they had tried to hide from the attackers.

After some of the men assaulted them and threatened their grandmother with what looked like a firearm, they then dragged them to an open area in Salt Lake, where they took turns to repeatedly sexually assault them.

The girls claimed they were each raped up to 10 times during the ordeal, which lasted several hours.

After the girls were told they were free to go, and as they made their way back home, they were approached by Nkosekhaya Busakwe, 25, and Sivuyile Burwana, 31, who also took turns to rape them.

Gqiba said yesterday it was no coincidence that Busakwe and Burwana came across the women shortly after their ordeal, she said they had been tipped off by their co-accused and were ready to pounce.

Lawyers for the eight men - who all denied the allegations against them - had called for their acquittal.

All eight men were remanded in custody.

The case was postponed to October 1 for pre-sentencing reports, after which the men will be sentenced.