CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- A dance teacher in South Africa has been charged with sexually assaulting young girls who came to him for lessons.
A prosecutor said Monday that Mlulami Gagu, 42, is now alleged to have raped at least 17 girls between the ages of 5 and 12 in 2009 and early 2010, the West Cape News reported. He was arrested in February 2010.
Gagu taught in Khayelitsha, a township in the Cape Town region.
At Monday's hearing, Gagu said he cannot communicate with the lawyer appointed to represent him because she does not speak Xhosa. The mother of one of the alleged victims said Gagu is fluent in English.
Magistrate Gaynor De Wee postponed the trial for a month to give Gagu time to find counsel.
"There are certain procedures that need to be followed," De Wee said. "If these are not done, the High Court can decide this case is null and void."
