THE wife of a well-known gospel singer was raped during a house robbery at a complex in Centurion, police said yesterday.

THE wife of a well-known gospel singer was raped during a house robbery at a complex in Centurion, police said yesterday.

After the rape the gang leader apologised to the woman, said police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach.

Beeld newspaper reported that the gang leader told the woman the rapist was a new member of the gang and he had already scolded him, "because we don't rape".

Weilbach said the singer was working downstairs in his home in Irene Village Estate in Centurion, Pretoria, on Tuesday when four men climbed through an open window at about 1.45am.

The gang overpowered him and tied him up while one of the men went to the upstairs bedroom.

"One of the suspects entered the room where his 38-year-old wife was sleeping and raped her," said Weilbach.

The couple's children slept through the ordeal.

Weilbach said the apparent leader of the group was very upset about the rape.

"He explained (to the couple) that the rapist was a newcomer and normally they do not rape."

The men then loaded the singer's car with a computer and cellphones before forcing him to drive out of the complex.

The robbers dropped him off at St George's Hotel and he walked home.

The car was later found in Thembisa on the East Rand by the Pretoria flying squad.

Nobody was arrested.

The man's wife was discharged from hospital on Tuesday evening. - Sapa