A man accused of a series of rapes sniggered as one of his alleged victims described how she'd been attacked.
And while Ayanda Toyi, 21, claimed he was involved in “love relationships” with the girls and young women giving evidence against him, they've all said otherwise.
Toyi's trial in the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court this week is for the alleged rape of five girls and young women in and around Grahamstown, from 2008 to 2010.
Most described being forced at knifepoint to a house – Toyi's own, or that of an acquaintance. All of them said he'd used a knife to force them to have sex with him.
Toyi's defence, that he'd engaged in consensual sex with all the women was challenged, with the prosecution pointing out that two of the girls had been only 15 at the time.
In at least three of the statements of the rape survivors, they said they'd known Toyi beforehand, but said this acquaintance had never extended to a “love relationship”, as Toyi had claimed.
The first alleged rape was of a 15-year-old girl, in January 2008. The girl said in her statement that she hadn't known Toyi beforehand.
In October that year, he allegedly attacked a 20-year-old woman late at night. In her statement the woman said Toyi, armed with a knife, had forced her to go with him to his house, where he had raped her repeatedly.
Toyi's alleged third target was another 15-year-old girl. She said he'd forced her to accompany him to his house and raped her repeatedly.
The fourth rape survivor, who was 16 at the time, also said she was threatened with a knife and testified that when Toyi couldn’t find a condom, he had used a plastic grocery bag instead.
She denied Toyi’s claim that they had been in a relationship. “I did not want to do anything he wanted me to do,” she testified. “I didn’t even want him. He forced himself on me.”
The last alleged incident was in April 2010. A 16-year-old girl testified that she was walking with her cousin in Vukani Cemetery, when Toyi approached them. He produced a knife, she said and, when her cousin's cellphone rang, had taken it from her.
He told the cousin to wait, while he took the teenager into the cemetery, she said. In his defence, in addition to claiming that he'd had consensual sex with all five women, Toyi denied carrying a knife.
Dressed in a faded blue hoodie and wearing an earring, he appeared to snigger as one of the women recounted the rape.
If convicted on all charges Toyi faces several life sentences. He is in custody and the case is still in progress.
A man accused of a series of rapes sniggered as one of his alleged victims described how she'd been attacked.
And while Ayanda Toyi, 21, claimed he was involved in “love relationships” with the girls and young women giving evidence against him, they've all said otherwise.
Toyi's trial in the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court this week is for the alleged rape of five girls and young women in and around Grahamstown, from 2008 to 2010.
Most described being forced at knifepoint to a house – Toyi's own, or that of an acquaintance. All of them said he'd used a knife to force them to have sex with him.
Toyi's defence, that he'd engaged in consensual sex with all the women was challenged, with the prosecution pointing out that two of the girls had been only 15 at the time.
In at least three of the statements of the rape survivors, they said they'd known Toyi beforehand, but said this acquaintance had never extended to a “love relationship”, as Toyi had claimed.
The first alleged rape was of a 15-year-old girl, in January 2008. The girl said in her statement that she hadn't known Toyi beforehand.
In October that year, he allegedly attacked a 20-year-old woman late at night. In her statement the woman said Toyi, armed with a knife, had forced her to go with him to his house, where he had raped her repeatedly.
Toyi's alleged third target was another 15-year-old girl. She said he'd forced her to accompany him to his house and raped her repeatedly.
The fourth rape survivor, who was 16 at the time, also said she was threatened with a knife and testified that when Toyi couldn’t find a condom, he had used a plastic grocery bag instead.
She denied Toyi’s claim that they had been in a relationship. “I did not want to do anything he wanted me to do,” she testified. “I didn’t even want him. He forced himself on me.”
The last alleged incident was in April 2010. A 16-year-old girl testified that she was walking with her cousin in Vukani Cemetery, when Toyi approached them. He produced a knife, she said and, when her cousin's cellphone rang, had taken it from her.
He told the cousin to wait, while he took the teenager into the cemetery, she said. In his defence, in addition to claiming that he'd had consensual sex with all five women, Toyi denied carrying a knife.
Dressed in a faded blue hoodie and wearing an earring, he appeared to snigger as one of the women recounted the rape.
If convicted on all charges Toyi faces several life sentences. He is in custody and the case is still in progress.
