After the widespread rape allegations, persons believed to be working in the country illegally had their homes raided.
The charges against fourteen people who are alleged to have raped and sexually assaulted a group of women in South Africa in July have been withdrawn.
The suspects, who were referred to as illegal miners, were subjected to DNA testing, but the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) stated on Thursday that the evidence did not connect the suspects to the crime.
Several of the purported victims identified the suspects as the alleged rapists during a police identity parade, leading to their arrest and accusation.
On July 30, eight women who were participating in a music video shoot near an abandoned mine south of Johannesburg were attacked along with the rest of the team.
Communities near the mine staged violent protests in response to reports of gang rapes committed by so-called Zama Zamas, a colloquial name for illegal miners.
Additionally, it gave rise to racist remarks and threats directed at unauthorized immigrants.
Although the group was exonerated of all robbery and sexual assault accusations, the NPA reports that the suspects will still face charges for allegedly breaking immigration regulations.
On November 1st, that matter will be heard.
The BBC has since been informed by the police that they will keep looking into the rape incidents and want to prosecute the perpetrators.
Some people may view the withdrawn charges as an embarrassment for the nation’s police and judiciary, who are frequently criticized for failing sexual crime victims.
One of the largest numbers of recorded cases of sexual violence occurs in South Africa.
