"She begged him to stop. She asked him to forgive her for anything she had done to him," said Ismail, who said the attacker knew the girl's family.

A 27-year-old man appeared in the Bellville Magistrates' Court, Cape Town, on Tuesday for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl in Delft.

Prosecutor Sarah Dowries said the case was postponed for "bail information". He would remain in custody until his next appearance on January 28.

She said the man would face charges of rape, sexual assault, abduction and attempted murder.

The National Prosecuting Authority said the man could not be identified as he had not yet pleaded.

Outraged Delft residents packed the court room and the passage outside, where they were at one point tear-gassed by policemen, who told them to remain calm.

The nine-year-old victim is in the Red Cross Children's Hospital in a serious condition after the assault on Saturday night.

Kulsum Ismail, a convener of the local community watch, who was at the court, told Sapa the girl was undergoing treatment for severe burn wounds after the attacker allegedly poured fuel over her and set her alight.

"She begged him to stop. She asked him to forgive her for anything she had done to him," said Ismail, who said the attacker knew the girl's family.

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