Unisa professor accused of raping two homeless men released on bail

A University of SA (Unisa) professor accused of raping two homeless men has been released on bail because there was a possibility that the incidents were consensual, Pretoria police said on Tuesday.

"What I heard from the investigating officer was that there was no reason for the police to oppose bail as the two victims were both adults," said Warrant Officer Duane Lightfoot.

"There is also a strong possibly that there might have been consent."

The professor was released last Saturday. Another reason for granting bail was that he had a fixed job and home address, said Lightfoot.

The man, 52, was arrested on December 26, a day after he allegedly picked up the two men, aged 20 and 22, in the veld at Menlyn.

Lightfoot said according to investigations, the professor gave a man a lift and took him to his house in Garsfontein. After feeding and clothing him, the vagrant then performed sexual favours.

Afterwards, the professor dropped the man off and picked up another one in the veld. At his home, the homeless man was also clothed and fed and sexual favours were allegedly performed. The men reported the alleged rapes to the Garsfontein police station and the professor was arrested. He may not be named until he has pleaded to the charges and was expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on January 30.