Mbombela – The trial of an Mpumalanga man accused of raping five women and robbing three other people has been postponed to May by the Nelspruit Regional Court.

“We have another matter on trial and we cannot proceed with this case,” Magistrate Willie Wilkens said on Tuesday.

He apologised to the witnesses in court for the delay and postponed the matter to 5 May.

Henry Shijayi Shai, 27, was arrested on 22 May 2011, following a tip-off from one of his alleged victims.

Shai has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and three counts of robbery. He will remain in custody.

The court heard that in April 2011, Shai allegedly attacked and raped five women, aged between 21 and 27.

That year he also allegedly attacked and robbed two other people.

He allegedly committed the first robbery the previous year.

The crimes were allegedly committed in villages around Hazyview.

– SAPA