Further DNA tests have been requested

The setting of a trial date for four South African youths accused of abducting and raping a tourist from south Wales has been postponed for two months for further forensic and DNA tests.

The youths are accused of raping Julie Stevens, from Newport, last November.

All are unemployed rural villagers living in South Africa's safari province of Mpumalanga, have been remanded to police custody until 17 March after they declined to apply for bail.

The Nelspruit sexual offences court will only set a definite trial date after police have delivered a progress report on the laboratory tests.

Ms Stevens and her 25-year-old South African travel companion Tinus Opperman were allegedly hijacked while sightseeing at the historic Long Tom Pass between Sabie and Lydenburg on 16 November.

An unsuspecting Mozambican motorist, Domingo Albert Chamber stopped to help but was shot in the head and later died.

Ms Stevens and Mr Opperman said their ordeal did not end until 14 hours and 220km later, when their vehicle overturned on a wet road.

The alleged rape has been described as the most serious in a spate of 32 attacks against foreign tourists to Mpumalanga in 2002.

The trial has sparking international outrage and local government pledges to improve security.