Rugby players try to sidestep prison in CPUT rape bail bid
Two rugby players accused of raping a CPUT student make startling claims during their bail application, alleging a prior relationship with the victim.
Image: FILE
Two club rugby players from Paarl, accused of raping a 21-year-old female student, made explosive claims during their bail application in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The duo, aged 23 and 28, allege that one of them had a prior “friends with benefits” relationship with the victim.
The suspects, who cannot be named until they have pleaded, said during the applications that they were arrested on April 27 after allegedly raping the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) student.
According to court documents, it is alleged that the incident took place the day before their arrest, in the early hours of the morning at the victim’s residence.
Court documents of accused 1 state: “It is alleged by the State in the charge sheet that I had on four occasions inserted my penis into the vagina of [the victim], while my co-accused has restrained her in furtherance of common purpose on April 26, 2026.”
He added that they met the victim and two of her friends at a club, and that they apparently had consensual sexual intercourse in 2025.
The documents added: “My co-accused was with me at the time and we slept over in the complainant’s room that night on her invitation.
“The complainant and I were never in a romantic relationship, and never did we pursue such a relationship after our first sexual intercourse in 2025.
“In fact, we did not stay in contact and never attended social gatherings as a couple.
“Upon meeting the complainant in the nightclub on April 26, I politely asked her about a naked picture of mine which she took during our first sexual intercourse in 2025, which she, according to a friend of mine, still had on her telephone.”
The court further heard that after leaving the club, the two accused accompanied the victim to her room, and the victim allegedly said that she and accused 1 would have a “quickie”.
The accused argued that the victim asked accused 2 to keep the door of her room closed while they were busy inside.
He further argued that at no stage did accused 2 touch the victim, and he could not see them as the lights were switched off.
Both accused said they intend to plead not guilty to all charges and can pay R1 000 for their release on bail.
The State is opposing their release on bail as they face a Schedule 6 offence.
The case was postponed to Friday for the State to respond to the bail applications.