The case against a 36-year-old man accused of murdering 11 KwaZulu-Natal women and dumping their bodies in sugarcane fields, was postponed in the Ramsgate High Court on Monday.

KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Vuka Tshabalala postponed the case until 25 July next year for trial. This would allow lawyers for Thozamile Taki and his accomplice Hlengiwe Nene to go through the more than 4000 pages of court documents.

Taki is accused of being the mastermind in the case. He allegedly lured the 11 women to the KwaZulu-Natal town of Umzinto with the promise of employment and then murdered them. It is believed he also raped them.

The Ramsgate High Court was packed to capacity with members of the ANC Women's League. As Taki was driven away from the small court building, several of the approximately 150 protesting women banged on the side of the police van. There was a heavy police presence.

The case was postponed last week, after Taki insisted on having a Legal Aid attorney who could speak Xhosa and because of a backlog at the court.

State prosecutor advocate Noxolo Tokwana said the State would not oppose a postponement because it would be "unfair" on the new defence team.

During Nene's unsuccessful bail application on 27 November, the court heard that when some of the victims could not be convinced about the offer of employment in Umzinto, they would receive a call from a woman, who would tell them: "This is my brother. You've got nothing to fear".

Investigating officer Nico Crouse told the court then that there was a strong possibility that Nene was that woman.

Police initially arrested five people, three women and two men, in connection with the so-called sugarcane murders.

Two women have since been released. The charges against 28-year-old Zandisile Bhadla Somanikiniki were dropped during the hearing on 10 October.

Sapa