Church videographer arrested for rape
MBABANE – A Gatekeepers Assembles Church’s videographer, who also serves as the prophet’s personal assistant, has been arrested for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl.
1tshwane .atleho Jacob, from the 5epublic of South Africa, has since made his appearance at the 0an]ini 0agistrates Court, charged for contravening Section 3 (3) (c) as read with Subsection 9 (b) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act of 2018.
7he charge sheet states that Jacob allegedly engaged in unlawful sexual intercourse with the minor, who is incapable of consenting to any act of a sexual nature in law and exposed her to sexually transmitted diseases such as H,V A,DS, on numerous occasions.
Conduct
,t has been stated that Jacob¶s alleged actions inflicted life-lasting trauma to the minor.
However, in his bail application filed at the High Court, Jacob denied having committed the offence, stating that he never, at any occasion had unlawful sexual intercourse with the minor.
He submitted that he was in shocN when his spiritual father Alex 1Nambule informed him that the police had invited him to the police station. He stated that he proceeded to the police station, where he was subseTuently arrested and charged with the offence.
Jacob, who said he was currently Nept at the =aNhele 5emand Centre, registered his desire to be admitted to bail, pending his trial. He stated that he would plead not guilty to the offence.
He averred that he arrived in Eswatini through his spiritual father, who oversees the church situated at Elangeni in /obamba. Jacob submitted that he had been living at 1Nambule¶s homestead situated in the 0an]ini 5egion since he arrived in the country.
He stated that he was now a member of 1Nambule¶s community, as he was formally introduced to the area¶s authorities.
He shared that on or around 1ovember 2023, he met the minor, whom he proposed love to and dated. He stated that after many of their conversations, the minor disclosed that she was 19 years old.
7he videographer alleged that he used to spend time along the path leading to the minor¶s homestead.
³On December 13, 2022, we arranged to meet after she invited me over to her homestead, where she had a separate house. As a person still under my spiritual father¶s authority, , decided that , would visit her in the still of the night,´ he submitted.
7he church member further submitted that he headed to the complainant¶s homestead. 8pon his arrival, he alleged that the complainant welcomed him by the gate and led him to her room.
However, he submitted that hardly five minutes after his arrival, he heard voices and some footsteps approaching in the direction of the minor¶s house.
³,t was her family comprising of her brothers and grandmother. As a result, , bolted out in panic,´ he said.
Interrogation
Jacob claimed that he never slept with the minor on the day of the incident. 7he church member averred that he later learnt that in the heat of an interrogation from her family,
7he minor had alleged that she slept with him in order to disguise the existence of a boyfriend, who had allegedly been freTuenting her homestead at night. ,t was his claim that he also learnt that the minor¶s family had been preparing to catch the man who visited their daughter at night.
Jacob stated said that there was no liNelihood that, if rereleased on bail, he would flee the country since the prospects of being convicted were very low if totally nonexistent.
He said he was confident in his defence and that he was advised that even though the offence he was charged with was of a serious nature, it did not mean he would flee.
7he personal assistant stated that he was a full resident of the community where he had lived since 2019.
He said his spiritual father had deposed to an affidavit, confirming that he resided at his homestead and that they were always together for church-related activities.
Salary
He mentioned that he was permanently employed at the church, where the salary was his only means of survival.
He said, though there were instances where he visited his family in his home country, he returned to Eswatini.
Jacob said despite his arrest occurring over a month from the date of the alleged incident and investigations, he remained in the country without any attempt to leave.
He said there was no way he could flee and leave his employment in Eswatini for South Africa, where he said the unemployment rate was notoriously high.
Jacob undertooN to abide by all conditions attached to his bail if released.
Jacob was granted bail fixed at E50 000, however, he was ordered to deposit E5 000 cash and provide sureties to the sum of E45 000.
Jacob was represented by Simo Simelane in the matter. .