Fourteen suspects accused of raping and sexually assaulting a group of women in South Africa in July have had those charges dropped.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Thursday that DNA evidence taken from the suspects, described as illegal miners, failed to link them to the crime.
“Upon consultation with the complainants on the matter and evidence at had it became apparent we cannot proceed with prosecution. We have insufficient evidence to continue with the case,” said the NPA’s spokesperson Phindi Louw Mjonondwane.
The suspects were arrested and charged after some of the victims pointed them out as the alleged rapists during a police identity parade.
Eight women had been filming a music video on 30 July near a disused mine outside Johannesburg when they and the film crew were attacked by a large group of men.
Reports of the gang rape by the so-called Zama Zamas, a colloquial term used for illegal miners, led to violent protests by communities in the area where the mine is located.
It also led to xenophobic rhetoric and threats against undocumented immigrants.
Although the group have been cleared on the sexual violence and robbery charges, the NPA says the suspects will still be charged for allegedly contravening immigration laws.
That matter will be heard on 1 November.
The police have meanwhile told the BBC that they will continue investigating the rape cases and intend to bring the attackers to justice.
The dropped charges will be seen by some as an embarrassment to the country’s police and courts, which are often criticised for failing victims of sexual crimes.
South Africa has one of the highest reported cased of sexual violence in the world.
Source: African News