Over 80 men accused of raping eight women appear in South African court

More than 80 men suspected of the gang rapes of eight women and the armed robbery of a video production crew in the South African town of Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, have appeared in court.

The men were arrested at an abandoned mining site following the rapes and robbery near the disused mine.

The gang rapes occurred when a crew filming a music video at one of the abandoned mines was attacked by armed men on Thursday last week, according to police.

Laboratory studies of DNA samples from the raped women would be used to identify perpetrators, the national minister of police, Bheki Cele, said on Monday.

Others arrested are expected to face additional charges of illegal immigration and illegal mining.