Alfred Moselakgomo

Alfred Moselakgomo

After eight years of waiting for justice to be done, an alleged rape victim listened as one of her attackers told the court that she had agreed to have sex in exchange for beer.

Hendrick Masuku Matlanato, 29, one of the accused, yesterday said he and the victim were at the same tavern when he approached her to have sex with him in 2000.

"She said I should first buy her six bottles of Hunters Dry, which I did," said Matlanato.

He said he and the victim had fun and drank together before going to an abandoned house next to the tavern to have sex.

During cross-examination, Matlanato testified that he could not remember how long their sex lasted because they had both had one beer too many.

"We were both drunk and there is no way I can remember that, but when a person is drunk, it normally takes them about six minutes to ejaculate."

Matlanato has blamed the victim's mother of forcing her daughter to lay rape charges against him. He said he had witnesses who can attest to his statement.

The hearing at the Groblersdal regional court in Limpopo was then postponed to Thursday to continue with the defence's evidence.

Together with Tsomi Skosana, 28, Matlanato, of Malebitsa village in Moutse, is in the dock for allegedly raping the woman, who was 14 at the time, in 2000. They allegedly dragged her from the tavern and raped her before being busted by one of the accused's girlfriend, who alerted other people.

At the time, the victim was 14 years old and Matlanato 20.

The prosecutor handling the case said the matter will be rolled from week to week if necessary to finalise it within this month.

Matlanato said he did not know that the victim was underage at the time because she had a big body and behaved maturely.