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Woman who accused Durban Hip-hop group of rape drops case

A woman who had accused a Durban-based hip-hop group of gang raping her has changed her mind and sought to drop the charges.

The 19-year-old college student shocked the police on Friday when she decided to drop the case.

This emerged after media reports last week that the group attempted to bribe her family with R70000 to drop the case, but her relatives turned it down.

However, the Umlazi trio who are prime suspects in the matter are not off the hook yet as KwaZulu-Natal police are continuing to investigate the rape case.

Major Thulani Zwane said they would fully probe the case and send the docket to the prosecutor for a final decision.

"The police are not dropping the case. In fact, we are committed in concluding the investigation, and include her (victim's) statement and send the docket to the prosecutor."

Zwane refused to reveal the reasons that led to the woman dropping the charges.

Sowetan has learnt that while the victim was dropping the case, the hip-hop outfit was entertaining revellers at Molweni, an area near KwaNgcolosi, outside Durban.

The alleged rape incident took place on March 25 at an apartment in Morningside, a suburb in Durban.

The victim reportedly told police that she was lured by her friend to the group's apartment where she was allegedly drugged. She said she felt dizzy after taking a soft drink, and that when she regained consciousness, a man was raping her.

She was apparently taken to a rape victims centre where she was checked by a doctor and semen from different men was found in her.

Last week, police were still waiting for the group's lawyer to hand them over. The rape case is being handled by the Brighton Beach family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit.

It has also emerged that the group was wanted by the landlord of their Morningside apartment.

The three apparently damaged the blinds and carpet, and they owe the landlord about R5000 for water and electricity.

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