Prosecutor's lost cellphone stalls 'Uber gang' case

The case against four men accused of using the Uber e-hailing app to kidnap, rape and rob multiple women in 2016 could not continue on Monday after the prosecutor lost her cellphone.

A few moments before the case was due to resume in the South Gauteng High Court, sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, prosecutor Preshelia Ranchod discovered that her cellphone was missing.

One of the lawyers in court called Ranchod’s phone but the call went to voicemail. It was not clear where the prosecutor had lost her phone.

The defence lawyers and the prosecutors went into the judge’s chambers before the court session began.

On their return, Ranchod said: "There is something I need to attend to. I cannot focus on the matter."

She then asked for the matter to stand down until Tuesday.

Judge Ramarumo Monama agreed, adding that when a person lost their cellphone it was was like "one had lost part of oneself".

The trial of Elias Mankgane, Daniel Maswikaneng, Treasure Bonga and Themba Mkhwanazi began last week.

The four men have pleaded not guilty to a number of counts including rape, robbery, kidnapping and assault of women in 2016 - under the guise of picking them up in Uber vehicles. Among their alleged victims is Susan Dey, the mother of singer Tamara Dey.

According to the charges read out to the court, the gang members would attack their targets in various combinations, but in the most violent incident, all four men were involved. The four pleaded not guilty to all 14 charges.

Three people who were assaulted by the gang testified last week and testimony from a new witness was expected on Monday.