Charges Dropped Against Banyana Accused

Johannesburg - Charges against one of the five men accused of killing and raping a Banyana Banyana player Eudy Simelane were withdrawn in the Springs Regional Court on Tuesday.

The case against the remaining four men was then transferred to the Delmas High Court for trial due to the nature of the offences committed.

The trial is expected to start on February 11 next year, and the four men, who cannot be named because they have not pleaded, will be facing charges of murder with aggravating circumstances, two charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and rape.

They will remain in custody until then, Magistrate Julius Mokoma ordered, before they were led down to the holding cells.

Simelane's half-naked body was found in an open field next to the Kwa Thema Hostel in April this year. She was raped and stabbed to death.

Her alleged assailants were arrested on April 28 this year and a knife which was suspected to have been used in her murder was found in the men's possession.

Simelane was a well-known gay rights activist and her murder was linked to a spate of attacks on gays and lesbians.

Outside the court on Tuesday, a group of protesters sang protest songs, mainly advocating unity and admonishing hate crime.

Clad in black T-shirts bearing the names of victims of crime such as Simelane and two lesbians who were found murdered in Soweto last year, they carried placards reading: "Justice for Eudy", "Say no to gender violence", "Stop the killing of gays and lesbians", and "We are all equal, straight or gay".