A South African man has pleaded guilty to raping a seven-year-old girl in a restaurant toilet last year.

On the first day of his trial in the city of Pretoria, Nicholas Ninow also pleaded guilty to possession of drugs.

Witness saw Nicholas Ninow in the toilet cubicle with the seven-year-old

After the attack, a crowdfunding appeal was launched to help cover the cost of the girl's therapy and rehabilitation.

Several recent incidents of gender-based violence - including the rape and murder of 19-year-old student Uyinene Mrwetyana in Cape Town - have fuelled protests in the country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised to push for harsher sentences for rapists and murderers.

Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

What joy do one derive from rape?
7 years old girl for that matter

The problem of south africa is way deeper than you can imagine.
They just looking for who to blame for their moral woes.
South Sudan will be better than south africa when all foreigners leave their forsaken country, they have forgotten what happened to their neighbours Zimbabwe.